By jinrancherry
Prague – Feb 9, 2009 – IJS-Global.com: Around 20 years before, Czech was transformed from a socialism country to a capitalism country. People of the country got their democracy, but maybe they are not satisfied by the changes of the extent of economy and their daily living. Rob Cameron, a freelance of BBC Prague bureau said.
“Nowadays, the per-capita average incomes of Prague per month is around 1,000 euro,” Rob cited, “and it obviously is not too much.” As per the statistic of other cities, Bob believed that will be less than Prague.
In 1989, Czechs fighted against the political system at that time, did not mean they all fighted for democracy. “Some people was, but some people may be just for the freedom to buy a new DVD player.” Cameron put it. People want their life can be changed better, but actually you can hear complaints everywhere. “They thought they lose the security and the social consonance.” Rob said, apparently people want more development.
Monica, a postgraduate of history department, Charles University of Czech said the government does not guarantee houses any more like what the socialism government did previously. “The price of the real estate in Prague now is very very high, we young people can not afford a house any more.” She said. Now she lives with her parents in a house which locates in the downtown guaranteed by previous government. But now the family faces a dilemma—-buy a big or new house in a way of selling the old and small one, meanwhile, they have to move from downtown to the suburb because they can not cope with the price and the location at the same time.
Cameron confirmed that the high price of Prague’s real estate. He rents a downtown apartment with three rooms and 120 squares by 1,250 euro per month, but most of the local people would share a house by the basic cause of barely affording the rent fee.
Apart from the tram and the subway, more and more Prague residents chose private car as their transportation. As the capital and the richest city among Czech, not all the family can buy even if an economy car.
Supermarket is always a best place to observe local standard of living. The prices of commodities are still very cheaper comparing with western European countries. Two cooked chicken legs only cost 30 crowns which equals to about 1.2 euro. The price gap make people feel too expensive when travelling in most of other European countries. Comparing with the local price level, prices of tourist souvenirs like ripping-off. A fridge magnet costs around 3 euro in Prague but in Paris, it only charges tourist 1 euro more. Maybe that’s the reason of how Prague residents make 70% incomes from tourists, according to Lonely Planet, Prague.
