The absolute rate of poverty based on 4 dollars a day in Eastern Europe increased from 4 percent in 89 to 32 percent in 94 . Regardless of whether you believe unemployment , the poverty level using a two dollar standard increased fro 2 percent in Russia to 23 . 8 percent in 1998 . More than 40 percent of the country had less than 4 dollars a day according to the world bank . Not to mention this is only measures of abject poverty and not even the precipitous wage declines in the region and lower life expectancies . You ' re patently wrong . Also improvements weren ' t a result of socialism but the declines were ? Sick double standard , bro . Especially considering most of the improvements had nothing to do with currency rates or wages but rather education , housing and healthcare .