impact of the transition process on living standards

The economic and social situation of the SFR Yugoslavia deteriorated steadily from the early 1980s onwards, until the country collapsed in 1991. Due to differing political and economic attitudes, the transition process progressed at different rates in the individual successor states. In Montenegro, for example, the transition process began somewhat later than in other former Yugoslav republics. The split within Montenegro's leading political parties in 1997 could be described as the beginning of the transition process, which overlapped with the 'struggle' for Montenegro's independence. In 2006, Montenegro regained its independence and began transition and transformation processes that affected people's lives and led to changes in social structures. Now, more than 20 years after the beginning of the transition to capitalism and the start of change, the new Montenegrin elites should ask themselves whether they have chosen the right path and whether the transition process has really brought about an improvement in living standards.