New disparities in a changing world

People were queuing this afternoon to get into the most expensive shops in a well-to-do area of Brussels. The other shops, normally patronised by the medium-income people had almost no customer. And then, there was this incredibly sad sight of closed restaurants and bars and a big hotel, a huge tower, completely empty. For me, it was a vivid example of how the crisis is seriously affecting some segments of society whilst others are just returning to their old habits, as if the past were back. But it is not.

Rich and poor in Europe

Brusssels is number three in the EU in terms of income per capita. The data show that its residents’ income is twice the European average. Inner London and the Luxembourg Duchy are number one and two. The former –Inner London – is a pretty rich corner of Europe. The average Londoner has an income that is more than three times the European average. In Luxembourg, the equivalent figure is about 2.5 times.

Bulgaria and Romania, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the list. They are indeed very poor countries by European standards. The gap between them and the top three is abysmal. And it keeps growing for now.