Sevilnius: Eurchasing power
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From north east to south west 3870 kilometers separate two European cities Seville and Vilnius. Keeping in mind that both of them are still creating their European identity (as well as, Europe is) one can believe that such distance looses it’s meaning. We are saying that technologies, historical and demographical data enables us to give to the distance a new sense. New European values are created, while eliminating it using legal, political and economical measures. At the same time Sevilnius is intended to create the discussion on how such distance can help.
Before looking for something in common it is important to grasp the differences between prices and purchasing power in Seville and Vilnius. The material value of identity should not be confined to trade marks, however. The survey of goods and services offered for European citizens is only basic information, which will be necessary when unfolding their financial situation and its’ influence to their perception of Europe.
CITY LABOR MARKET
Both cities joined Europe with the similar number of citizens. Today the population of Vilnius city is 550 000, and slightly more 700 000 are living in Seville. Vilnius district has 850 000 registered citizens of Lithuanian, Polish and Russian nationality and Seville metro covers the area, which is home for 1,5 million Andalusians and immigrants from South America. Sevillians emphasize that most of the people who do not get even the minimum wage are working under temporal contracts or illegally. According to the data of Eurobarometer, 5 % of the Spanish population gets the illegal payment at least once a year. Although, there are twice of such people in Lithuania - 10%, legal wage even for students here is rearly more than a minimum. In Spain, where students get less only because they are studying, those who earn 1000 EUR in their first job have a new name . While in Lithuania students and many school children start their career with a half of the minimum 115 EUR.
MILEURISTAS
PLEASURE OF PURCHASING
For those who get the minimum wage 600 EUR in Seville
• 100 EUR left after buying the stove and the washing machine. • 200 EUR left after paying the rent for 1 room apartment not in the city center.
Those who get the minimum wage 230 EUR in Vilnius
• Should borrow 190 EUR before buying the stove and the washing machine.
• 100 EUR left after paying the rent for 1 room apartment not in the city center.
NEED CHARITY?
For 200 EUR Sevillian can have a dinner in the café the whole month. In Vilnius, 100 EUR is enough for a month to pay the everyday hot dish. While Sevillian, who gets the minimum 600 EUR, pays 1/12 of his wage for a monthly ticket, in Vilnius the same ticket makes 1/12 of the minimum 230 EUR. If Sevillian would like to help poor people he could by 1000 loafs of bread, and the most generous Vilnius worker could only buy 500 of such bread loafs for a minimum wage.
Today the big part of city residents lack of social, and moral incentives to create the common Europe. Thus, the next task of Sevilnius is to compare the role of material values in their life. Does the bigger purchasing power in Seville means, that material values are becoming more and more important in Europe?