Albanians, people who discriminate against the poor more than anyone else in Europe

Being free of income or without a job in Albania is more likely to feel discriminated against than in any other European country. Paradoxically, one of the countries with the lowest per capita income in Europe (but apart from Kosovo, Ukraine and Moldova) looks down on poor people.

A European Commission survey concerning support and social exclusion has highlighted this tendency.

Respondents from EU and candidate countries have been asked whether or not they agreed with the statement: “Some people look down on me because of the situation with work or income”.

Surprise is the response of respondents from Europe's poorest state. 33% of Albanians have responded that they agree to this statement, which is much higher than the European Union average of 14%, and also compared to other countries in the region, Monitor.al reports.

Only 11% of Montenegrins claim they are looked down on because of the situation with work and revenues, 18% of Turks, 19% of Serbs and 20% of Macedonians.

Behind Albania is Romania (27%), while countries that have lower contempt for the poor are Sweden, Spain and Slovakia, with only 8%.

Those who feel more discriminated against are males, with 36% of them agreeing to the question, in relation to 30% of Albanian women.

Albanian teenagers do not care much, while 19% of the 18-24-year-old age group agreed with the statement in question. Those who suffer most are young people aged 25-34, when their expectations are higher. 38% of them responded that they are looked down on because of the situation with work or income.

While the record is held by the 35-49-year-old group, where they agree with the statement, 43% of respondents dropped -- far higher than the European average of 15%.

The poor feel more, with 44% of the I Group (where the lowest income is rated), who claim to be viewed crooked because they have no good job or much income.

Other International Monetary Fund data shows that the two Albanian-speaking states -- Albania and Kosovo -- are ranked last in Europe (without including former Soviet Union countries) for per capita income.

For 2018, Albania is estimated to have a per capita income of $5261, instead of 102 out of 191 countries, improving with four countries in proportion to 2017 when it was in the 106th position. Kosovo, with revenues per capita of $4.324, ranks 112th.