Part 4/9:
As market reforms took root, employment opportunities evaporated. During this period, labor force participation fell sharply across Eastern Europe, especially among women, with significant repercussions on family dynamics and social stability. A staggering drop of over 70% in new housing construction left young couples in a difficult position—forced to navigate high market prices for housing while facing steep declines in income and job security.
Factors related to child-rearing costs, such as education and healthcare, saw price increases that far outpaced wage growth. The safety nets that existed prior to the market transition were dismantled, resulting in large swaths of the population falling into poverty, particularly affecting children and the working-age demographic.