The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently presented its annual transition report, shedding light on Albania's unique status as the only country in Southeast Europe where the quality of life has not improved compared to 2016.
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| Tirana, near Skanderbeg Square, May, 2023 - Oculus News |
According to a survey conducted by Monitor on its website and social media platforms, participants highlighted economic conditions and high levels of corruption as the primary reasons for the stagnant quality of life in Albania. Just over 36% of respondents cited high corruption as the main reason, while approximately 36% attributed the unsatisfactory economic situation as the primary factor hindering improvement in quality of life, Monitor reports.
Participants in the survey also identified the weakness of the rule of law as the third reason hampering the increase in life satisfaction among Albanians, with 16% of the total votes in the survey.
The poor quality of the education and healthcare systems was deemed the primary reason for 11% of participants in the survey. Meanwhile, only 1% of respondents voted for the lack of order and security as the main reason.
According to the EBRD report, the level of life satisfaction among Albanians remains unchanged from 2016, and is even lower than in 2006, when the measurement of this index began.
In 2006, Albania was one of the countries with the highest life satisfaction among those surveyed by the EBRD. However, in 2022, Albania ranks among the lowest in the EBRD region, alongside North Macedonia, Hungary, Turkey, and Lithuania.
According to the EBRD Report, the average increase in life satisfaction in the region may reflect income growth, favorable developments in labor markets (including a shift towards more satisfying and higher-skilled jobs), and improvements in health.
"In particular, people's assessments of their health have improved significantly over time, with such assessments including not only physical aspects but also mental health. Survey results indicate that mental health concerns are associated with lower satisfaction and tend to be more prevalent in poorer countries and among financially insecure individuals," the report stated.
Based on the EBRD's analysis, it can be concluded that the aforementioned factors in Albania have not followed a trend of improvement, unlike in most other countries.