Economic influences on ideals about future jobs in young adults in formerly socialist countries and the United States

The relation between macroeconomic variables and ideals of future work are examined in students from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and the United States. It is concluded that macroeconomic factors are markedly related to job values, whereby wanting a well-paid job is associated with poorer economic conditions, and wanting a career is associated with better economic conditions, while helping others and having time for family are least important to CEE students.