Family Background and Economic Outcomes in Central and Eastern Europe: A Comparative Analysis

The concept of inequality of opportunity remains a debated and researched topic, occupying a central place in international public policies developed by governments and organisations. The importance of studying this kind of inequality lies in how familial and social backgrounds can impact one’s outcomes throughout life. The present study examines inequalities of opportunity from a microeconomic perspective across 12 Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. The analysis is based on data from the fourth edition of the Life in Transition Survey database, conducted in 2022-2023. The primary results show a rather high employment rate of respondents across the selected countries, but differences in salary outcomes when associated with characteristics such as gender, residence, age, education, and family background. Generally, respondents with higher education and more advantaged family environments are more frequently found in the upper salary quintiles, whereas those with lower educational attainment or fewer books in childhood are more often found in the lower income categories. Romania tends to follow these regional patterns, though with some specific features. These findings may contribute to a better understanding and monitoring of inequalities of opportunity, providing useful insights for policy development.