According to the generally accepted classification, which the UN also adheres to, the region of Eastern and Central Europe includes all Eastern European countries that were previously part of the socialist camp. Of course, the countries of Eastern Europe are also the B altic states, that is, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. All of them are characterized by a transitional economy from a planned, socialist, to a market one.
If we consider the main economic indicators that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe can boast of, it immediately becomes obvious that the Czech Republic is rightfully considered the most highly developed in this part of the world. It is inferior to Hungary, Slovakia and Poland. If we mention industry, then its main feature is the large role of heavy industry and mechanical engineering. This fact is also connected with the socialist past of all these countries. After the collapse of the Union, the countries of Eastern Europe experienced significant shocks and trials, as old markets, sources of raw materials and logistics schemes disappeared.
As elsewhere in Europe, the countries of Eastern Europe are trying to maintain an ecological balanceand reduce the extraction of minerals such as coal and metal ores. The scale and role of prey is decreasing. However, restructuring in other areas of industry is proceeding very vigorously, especially with regard to science and knowledge-intensive industries, which should be understood as the production of radio electronics, robotics, automation and various space technologies.
The most persistent and profitable industries are food, textile, printing and woodworking. Agriculture, which the countries of Eastern Europe are traditionally proud of, is also going through the stages of reforms and changes, getting used to the market system, and being transformed. Instead of large and significant cooperatives, private small farms appeared. It is they who own most of the land in countries suitable for agriculture.
Countries of Eastern Europe, the list of which is not too long, are also characterized by a quite traditional and already familiar high standard of living, especially in comparison with more eastern neighbors. The national governments that came to power after the collapse of the Union are pursuing a state policy that is aimed at achieving major social reforms and transformations.
Eastern European countries can boast much less decline in the level and quality of life. These states spend on social payments as much as the states of Western Europe allow themselves. And in Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, deductions for varioussocial groups and do the highest in the world.
These states are characterized by a rather long life expectancy of their inhabitants, which they are constantly trying to increase, as well as the level of education of the population and, very importantly, the real value of gross domestic income per capita, taking into account, of course, the cost of living in each particular country. In general, these states are, of course, less prosperous than the countries of Western Europe, but, nevertheless, very prosperous and successful.
