The percentage of people living in poverty in Europe increased from 1987 to 1995.
Romania experienced the greatest increase in poverty percentage.
The transition from communism to market economies was a contributing factor.
Therefore, the answers are: increased, Romania, economic and political transitions.
Explanation
Analyzing the Data First, let's analyze the data provided in the table. We have the percentage of the population living in poverty for several European countries during two time periods: 1987-1988 and 1993-1995. We need to determine whether poverty increased or decreased from the first period to the second, identify the country with the greatest increase in poverty, and suggest a contributing factor to these trends.
Determining Overall Trend To determine whether poverty increased or decreased overall, we can look at the individual changes in each country. However, the question asks about Europe in general. A simple approach is to sum the poverty percentages for all listed countries in each period and compare the totals. In 1987-1988, the total percentage is 6 + 1 + 6 + 2 + 2 = 17 . In 1993-1995, the total percentage is 48 + 7 + 10 + 39 + 26 = 130 . Since 130 is greater than 17, the percentage of people living in poverty in these countries increased from 1987 to 1995.
Identifying the Country with the Greatest Increase Next, we need to find the country with the greatest jump in the percentage of the population living in poverty. To do this, we calculate the difference in poverty percentage for each country:
Romania: 48 − 6 = 42
Hungary: 7 − 1 = 6
Poland: 10 − 6 = 4
Russia: 39 − 2 = 37
Ukraine: 26 − 2 = 24
Comparing these differences, we see that Romania had the greatest increase, with a jump of 42 percentage points.
Identifying a Contributing Factor Finally, we need to identify a contributing factor to the trends shown in the chart. The period between 1987 and 1995 was a time of significant political and economic change in Eastern Europe, including the fall of communism and the transition to market economies. This transition was often accompanied by economic instability, increased unemployment, and reduced social safety nets, which likely contributed to the rise in poverty in many of these countries.
Final Answer In summary, the percentage of people living in poverty in Europe increased from 1987 to 1995. The country with the greatest jump in the percentage of the population living in poverty was Romania. A contributing factor to these trends was the economic and political transitions following the fall of communism.
Examples
Understanding poverty trends is crucial for policymakers and economists. For instance, if a government observes a significant increase in poverty rates following a major economic reform, it can re-evaluate its policies and implement targeted social programs to support vulnerable populations. This analysis helps in making informed decisions to mitigate the negative impacts of economic transitions and improve the overall well-being of the population. By tracking these trends, governments and international organizations can allocate resources effectively and address the root causes of poverty.
The percentage of people living in poverty in Europe increased from 1987 to 1995, particularly in Romania, which saw the largest increase. This rise was largely due to the shifts from communism to market economies during this period. Economic instability and reduced social support systems were significant contributing factors to these trends.
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