Economist Andrei Caramitru looks for some explanations for the growing wave of frustration and violence in Romanian society.
Andrei Caramitru. PHOTO: Inquam Photos / Octav Ganea
Andrei Caramitru believes that around 25% of Romania's population does not have any stable job, and these people are prone to criminality. In fact, almost half of Romanians would be in a grayer area, the economist believes. In a Facebook post, he lays out a brief analysis linking poverty to criminality and talks about how the latest changes in society are influencing things.
“Why is there so much violent frustration in society? An explanation: Somewhere 20-25% of the population has no stable job, no income on paper. But these people live somehow. There is the lumpen area – sheman, prostitution, clans, theft, combinations, illegal work – supplemented with state aid and money sent by the cousin from Italy. There are very, very many and it's a tragedy. About half of them are cohabitants, the rest are not.” begins Andrei Caramitru.
Where does all this come from?
He says that a number of important changes have occurred in recent years, and these are now reflected in our reality. This is how many people ended up without any source of income, and some of them unsuccessfully tried to reinvent themselves, but without much success.
“Over the past few years, a few fundamental things have happened: 1. 'Surveillance' technology. Physical guards (many of whom were part of the schemes) were replaced by AI camera systems integrated into sophisticated security systems. And in Romania (it's a huge boom) and everywhere. That cut off a huge source of money for them. 2. “Girls” have moved to video-chat and Onlyfans, and no longer depend on the network of “boys”, who thus no longer have an object of activity. Part of the femicides come because of this situation and the desperation of the “boy” who is disintermediated”, is Caramitru's opinion.
And that's not all. With the arrival of more and more immigrants in the countries where many Romanians have moved to make a living, other problems have also appeared, Andrei Caramitru says.
“3. In the diaspora, the native population there revolts against immigrants who commit illegalities, sometimes violently. So the police are under pressure to stop them. These 3 effects have massively reduced the money in the lumpen area. And there is great despair. That's where the hysteria against “digital surveillance”, against “electronic money” or the “chip ballot” come from. Because they are perceived as the next steps to block them. And – not knowing what else to do – they are scared and hungry. That's why you see even more violence, including between clans. That is why they have become vocal and political. It's a real economic despair. PS: For commenters and analysts – I respectfully suggest they study the real population, not the imaginary one. These are big topics not fully understood“, concludes Andrei Caramitru.
