Listening to people from across Europe and Central Asia shows that despite an overall good economic performance, there is a lot of discontent and rising concerns about a disappearing middle class.

Through structured focus groups and in-depth interviews in 43 communities from nine countries, the report explores factors that have supported or hindered economic mobility and access to jobs among men and women in the region.

Men and women across the region describe societies that are increasingly polarized and are voicing frustration about slow progress, inequality of opportunities and the limited gains that have been achieved.
Over the last decade, a large share of the population in the Europe and Central Asia region has benefited from economic advances generated by strong growth in their communities. New opportunities have opened up in labor markets and entrepreneurship, new infrastructure and services have come about, and people have accumulated new knowledge and assets.

On the other hand, the economic transition of the 1990s, the recent economic crisis, and other shocks have reduced the role of the state as a source of employment and have taken a toll on many households.