Economic Influences on Ideals About Future Jobs in Young Adults in Formerly Socialist Countries and the United States

• Published in: Cross-cultural research Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 352 - 376
• Main Authors: Olson, Josephine E., Frieze, Irene H., Wall, Sally, Zdaniuk, Bozena, Telpuchovskaya, Nina, Ferligoj, Anuška, Kogovšek, Tina, Horvat, Jasna, Šarlija, Nataša, Jarošová, Eva, Pauknerová, Daniela, Luu, Lan Anh Nguyen, Kovacs, Mònika, Miluska, Jolanta, Orgocka, Aida, Erokhina, Ludmila, Mitina, Olga V., Popova, Ludmila V., Petkevičiu-te, Nijolė, Pejic-Bach, Mirjana, Makovec, Maja Rus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01-11-2006; SAGE; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Careers; Economic conditions; Economic indicators; Employment; Macroeconomics; Socialism; Students; Studies; Transition from school to work; University students; Working life; Eastern Europe; United States > US; Central Europe; USA; Europe; Central and Eastern Europe; work values; career plans; postsocialist society; macroeconomic performance measures
• ISSN: 1069-3971; 1552-3578
• DOI: 10.1177/1069397106289587

University students today in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) confront a world in which old ideals learned under state socialism are being questioned. Despite initial difficulties after the end of socialism, most of these countries now have more stable market economies. This article investigates how macroeconomic variables relate to ideals for future work in samples of students from eight CEE countries and the United States. Results indicate there are some significant relationships between macroeconomic factors and job values. Wanting a job that pays well is associated with poorer economic conditions, whereas wanting a career is associated with better economic conditions. Results for wanting a job that allowed time for family are mixed, with higher GDP per capita a positive predictor but economic growth a negative predictor. Economic predictors of wanting a job helping others are weak, with a significant effect of growth found only when U.S. data are added.