Development and Comparison of Selected Characteristics of Inequalities and Poverty in the Member Countries of EU

The EU emphasizes the elimination of poverty and social exclusion. The authors of this paper concentrated on the level and development of selected relevant indicators of inequities and poverty in the EU. The method of comparison was mainly applied to the analysis of the development and level of studied indicators. Developments in total of 27 EU Member countries in 2005-2010 with special stress on the 2008-2010 were compared. The aim was to point to the different levels and development of indicators in individual countries and different impacts of the economic crisis on these indicators. Results confirmed the hypothesis of differentiating impact of the crisis on some characteristics and they also point to success/failure of adopted programmes and measures intended to eliminate poverty by the EU as whole and by individual countries.