Search

The perspectives of European transitional countries to catch up with developed countries are based on international mobility of capital and technology transfer as two very important effects of the EU membership. But there is also one very important condition, and that is the education, which enhances the country&#8217 ; s ability to absorb and develop new technology. The combined primary, secondary and tertiary gross enrolment ratio in 1998 for European high-income countries is 92%, for Central and Eastern European countries is 74.4%. Education for the transitional countries represents a high priority. The relation among secondary gross enrolment ratio for European developed and transitional countries and per capita income growth in period 1980-1997 is analysed. The group of countries with highest average income growth rate (more than 2%) has also the highest increase in average secondary gross enrolment ratio. Analyzed by the Lorenz curve it is confirmed that the level of education influences the income distribution in the group of European developed and transitional countries. The human developed index is also considered as more consistent indicator than GDP per person for each group of countries.