The indicator of GDP per capita is more often considered one of economic efficiency than of a nation’s prosperity; it is a ratio between what a country manages to produce (in current prices) and the number of its inhabitants. It can reflect a lower degree of employment of the population (the cases of the countries in the south of the union, especially Italy, Greece, Romania or Bulgaria) or a high degree of profitability, Ireland and Luxembourg being countries where global multinational companies with very high profits are registered large (which do not necessarily remain in the respective countries).

Regarding Romania, the index shows a slight improvement in 2023, from 76% in 2022 to 78% of the European Union average. Romania has surpassed Hungary, a premiere, and currently lags behind Poland (80% of the EU average), which it has slightly approached.

The data are provisional and could be rectified in June, depending on the recalculation of the economic performances reported by the statistical institutes of the member countries.

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This talks about an entire generation and the education system of a country whose President announced during the first term that he would implement Educated Romania as his country’s project.

Of course, we’re not talking here about elites, about all those extraordinary kids that bring gold medals from the international olympiads. We’re not discussing all those professors who make these performances possible here. We talk about the average Romanian youngster who has no future in life but to do some hard labour abroad or in his backyard to put food on his table.

These statistics come, ironically, during the professors’ strike, when teachers nationwide protest for higher salaries. Meanwhile, pupils’ performances are poor enough to make one wonder about the legitimacy of the strike.

We wrote extensively about the failure of the education system in Romania. In 2021, only 77% of the pupils in the 12th grade registered for the baccalaureate exam. At that time, it was the lowest in the whole modern history of the country. These Eurostat statistics show that Romania is uneducated, and the generations coming are illiterate.

PISA tests show, every two years, that young Romanian have difficulties understanding basic texts. They can read and write in Romanian, or at least make themselves understood, minus grammar mistakes, but at least they can convey messages. Yet, they do not understand basic texts. Their brain doesn’t help at all. Now, with all that technology and AI Writers, young generations are expected to have their brains even foggier than before.

On the contrary, at the level of EU member states, the Netherlands reported the lowest percentage (4.2%), and the highest, almost five times higher, by Romania (19.8%). The data also shows that in 2022, a third of EU member states reported a rate of young people not in education and not working below the 9% target the EU wants to reach by 2030: the Netherlands (4.2%), Sweden (5.7%), Malta (7.2%), Luxembourg (7.4%), Denmark (7.9%), Portugal (8.4%), Slovenia (8 .5%), Germany (8.6%) and Ireland (8.7%).

The current political class in Romania failed to understand the importance of education. Even if Romania’s President mimics implementing some fancy project whose lines he hadn’t written or learned yet, the country will, unfortunately, remain uneducated for the years to come.

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According to Eurostat, Romania experienced the third-largest decline in industrial production in June 2022 compared to June 2021 (-3.7%). Only Slovakia (-5.7%) and Belgium (-11.6%) surpassed it. The industrial output of Bulgaria increased by 17.4%. In contrast, Romania experienced the largest drop in industrial production from May to June 2022 (-3.9%), followed by Belgium (-2.2%), Italy, and Latvia (all by -2.1%).

Industrial production (measured in working days) rose by 3.2% compared to June 2021 at the level of the European Union, or 0.6% from May to June. The Euro Zone’s growth from May to June was 0.7%.

Separately, the production of capital goods (machines, tools, and equipment) increased in the EU by 7.5% compared to June 2021, as did the display of items for immediate consumption by 2.6%, durable goods by 2.6%, and energy by 2.4%.

Furthermore, according to the National Institute of Statistics, the production of electricity and thermal energy, gas, hot water, and air conditioning (-6.3%), the extractive industry (-4, 4%), and the manufacturing industry (-1.6%) all saw declines in their respective industrial output.

However, the extractive industry’s (+136%) and the manufacturing industry’s (+23.9%) expansion led to an increase in the industry’s overall turnover. According to the National Institute of Statistics, gains in turnover were seen in the following sectors: energy (+109.3%), intermediate goods (+30%), consumer goods (+24.7%), durable goods (+12.9%), and capital goods (+13.3%) on the main industrial groupings.

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The Eurostat survey covered more than 2000 consumer goods and services conducted across 36 EU countries.

According to Eurostat, European consumer products and services prices varied considerably in 2021. Energy costs were significantly lower in Romania than in other EU countries, as were communications costs (38.6% of EU average), housing costs (53.5%), and energy prices (59.1% of EU average). Still, prices for tradeable goods were relatively close at 98.2% of the EU average for consumer electronics, 94.4 percent for consumer appliances, and 93.5 percent for footwear.

Moreover, the top price level index is weighted according to each nation’s consumption basket, which in the case of Romania is skewed towards a large share of food and energy costs.

According to Eurostat, food costs in Romania are 69% of the average for the EU. Still, the range of goods available on the local market is very different from those offered in more industrialized nations.

On the other hand, Denmark has the highest price level among the EU member states, at 40% over the EU average. The only EU countries that were 44% below average were Romania and Bulgaria.

Fast forward to 2022, compared to other EU countries, Romania might still be one of the lowest consumer prices country. However, inflation is rising, and the Romanian citizens are complaining about the high energy and gas prices. The reason for these results in Romania is the significant imbalance between the Romanian’s income and the consumer prices. This scenario seems unreal for the average person in Romania. If only the low prices would attract foreign tourists to Romania, Romania is not doing well in this regard either.

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Eurostat: 7% young Europeans are severely materially and socially deprived

The problem of limited material and financial possibilities that young people (15-29 years) are facing has a deeper meaning and long-lasting consequences. This issue may affect the youth’s lives in all aspects, including individually and socially.

According to Eurostat, the data of risk and poverty or social exclusion in 2020 among youths suggests that young people are not financially stable because they decide to move toward an independent life, leaving the parental household.

Romania has the highest rate of deprivation among the young people: 24%

Among the EU Member State, Romania has registered 24%, the highest proportion of young people in 2020 severely materially and socially deprived. Bulgaria, with 21%, and Greece, with 16%, are the other two countries in a similar situation.

On the other hand, Luxembourg, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Slovenia, Poland, Netherlands, Czechia, Cyprus, Sweden and Austria register less than 3%.

When comparing 2020 to 2019, Romania’s situation has worsened. Romania recorded the most significant increase in the proportion of severely materially and socially deprived people.

The situation regarding this matter in Romania is created because of the lack of concern of the Romanian state towards young people. Romanian State does not take the proper measures regarding the increasing poverty rate among young people. This is an alarming sign for Romania, which faces a high emigration issue among young adults. Until new job opportunities are created, or integration measures in the field of work are taken for the young adults, this situation won’t change.

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According to the European Institute, Bucharest will only have 1.5 million residents in 2030 as compared to 1.8 million now. The current number is contested by local authorities, as in Bucharest live more people than the ones who actually have an official residence in the city.

Even so, a drop in the official statistics by 23% is huge. This means that Bucharest could become less attractive to investors as it is at risk to lack the necessary workforce.

Among the causes of this tendency, there are three standing out. First, the natality, which is dropping not only in Bucharest but all over Romania. Another cause is the natural migration of Bucharest residents to Western countries, where they could find better-paid jobs. The third cause is the most obvious of it all: Bucharest residents move out to the outskirts. There are millions of residents living in the suburbs, who come to Bucharest every morning and go home in the afternoon.

All in all, experts estimate that Bucharest would still keep its economic power even though the city would become less populated. Its workforce will live in the suburbs as well, but also it will be completed by the immigrants coming to the city from the country or even from abroad.

This tendency also comes with some advantages. A quarter of the population lost in the following 9 years could offer its remaining residents a less polluted city, fewer traffic jams and a price drop of the rent.

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