Rethinking livelihood strategies in East-Central Europe: Some lessons from Ukraine

What are the livelihood strategies pursued by people in the post-socialist societies of East-Central Europe? This paper critically evaluates the view that most of the population secures its livelihood through the formal economy and that only marginalized populations now have to rely on the informal economy (i.e. work beyond employment) for their livelihoods. Drawing upon extensive survey data from Ukraine, this paper reveals that only a small minority of households in this post-socialist society rely on the formal economy alone and that the vast majority depend on a plurality of both formal and informal economic practices to secure their livelihoods. The outcome is a call for a greater appreciation and recognition to be given to the role of the informal sector in post-socialist societies.