Communist countries

Analysis

However, a study by the Royal Society Open Science concluded that "Communism significantly negatively predicts HDI, income and health indices" and that "Post World War II economic growth in communist countries was modest, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, relative to non-communist European countries." During the latter half of the Communist era, Eastern Bloc states saw a protracted stagnation or decline in life expectancy and other health metrics, corresponding to a period of economic stagnation. Furthermore, a study by the Polish Sociological Review concluded that most Eastern European countries were reducing their disparity with the West already before the First World War, and the most competent reformers started catching up with the West again after the Fall of Communism. This stands in contrast to the Communist era, when most of the Eastern Bloc fell behind the West economically.