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Estonian Human Development Report

Estonian Human Development Report - Eesti Koostöö Kogu

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Figure 1.4.3. <strong>Estonian</strong> GDP (right axis) and GDP<br />

growth (left axis) per capita in PPS 2000–2007<br />

(EU 27 = 100)<br />

10<br />

9<br />

8<br />

7<br />

6<br />

5<br />

4<br />

3<br />

2<br />

1<br />

0<br />

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007<br />

Source: Eurostat<br />

GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards<br />

Growth of GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards<br />

80<br />

70<br />

60<br />

50<br />

40<br />

30<br />

20<br />

10<br />

0<br />

The Purchasing Power Parities, like the majority of<br />

statistical indicators, include assessment and therefore<br />

also statistical errors. Therefore when comparing countries,<br />

one must keep in mind that the difference in GDP<br />

values calculated on the basis of PPP that are under 5%<br />

are statistically insignificant [Methodological…, 2006].<br />

The PPP errors depend on the reliability of the weight of<br />

the cost groups and the prices related thereto, and on how<br />

precisely the goods and services used in the measurement<br />

reflect the consumer model of an individual country and<br />

its price level.<br />

Standard of living of <strong>Estonian</strong> families in 2003–2007<br />

Considering the fact that in 2003–2007 Estonia experienced<br />

rapid GDP growth, reaching 68% of the European Union<br />

average, it is quite natural to ask whether <strong>Estonian</strong> families<br />

perceived the economic growth that took place in 2003–<br />

2007 through an improvement in their standard of living. In<br />

other words, how much are increases in general economic<br />

indicators related to increases in the standard of living?<br />

Figure 1.4.4. Structure of <strong>Estonian</strong> families’<br />

consumption 2003–2007<br />

6000<br />

5000<br />

4000<br />

3000<br />

2000<br />

1000<br />

0<br />

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007<br />

Source: SE<br />

Personal<br />

costs<br />

Travel<br />

packages<br />

Books<br />

Leisure<br />

time<br />

Communications<br />

Transport<br />

Education<br />

Health care<br />

Domestic<br />

products<br />

Dwelling<br />

Wardrobe<br />

Restaurant<br />

Alc+<br />

tobacco<br />

Food<br />

Incomes<br />

Tracking the dynamics of the economic condition of families<br />

[Tiit, 2008], it turns out that in those years incomes<br />

grew in all types of households. During the four year<br />

period, the nominal income per household member in<br />

Estonia increased by 94% on average and the real income<br />

by 63%. The greatest increase was in double-income families<br />

with several children (2.35 times), as well as in single-income<br />

(two-parent) families with two children<br />

(2.28 times) and one child (2.06 times). This is probably<br />

caused by the impact of family policies because parental<br />

benefits had the greatest impact on such families. Relatively<br />

smaller income increases (71%) were experienced<br />

by single-parent families and the impact of parental benefits<br />

was not great (presumably children are not often<br />

born into single-parent families, although single-parent<br />

families develop upon the departure of one parent).<br />

The impact of parental benefits (as a portion of income)<br />

has continually increased. Child benefits comprise an<br />

important part (at least 15%) of the income of families<br />

with at least two children and one working parent. Pensions<br />

increased during the reference period by slightly<br />

less than the average, by 77%; whereas the real pension<br />

growth was only 49%.<br />

Expenditures<br />

Increases in income have a positive impact on the quality<br />

of life, if they provide people with greater opportunities<br />

to satisfy more diverse needs. In 2003–2007, the<br />

non-food expenditures (in nominal value) of <strong>Estonian</strong><br />

families increased by 61% on average. Considering the<br />

increase in the consumer price index, one can conclude<br />

that the real expenditures increased by 40% during the<br />

same period. In the structure of non-food costs, the differences<br />

in the expenditure levels of different household<br />

groups are almost two times greater than in the case of<br />

food products (2.7–3.3 times). Transport costs experienced<br />

a relatively large increase – to a great extent this<br />

was caused by the rise in transport and fuel prices, as<br />

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