Materialist and Postmaterialist Value Trajectories and Its Determining Factors in the First Post-Communist Generation

This study uses Inglehart's theory of materialist-postmaterialist value change to analyse the values of the first post-communist generation (born 1991-2000) in 24 post-communist countries. The analysis of the data from the World and European Values Surveys of 1990–1993, 1999–2004, 2008–2014 and 2017–2022 waves leads to the conclusion that in the majority of post-communist countries, post-materialist values have become stronger in the first post-communist generation compared to those of older generations. This trend is particularly pronounced in the economically more advantaged post-communist countries, but is also observed in the economically disadvantaged ones. Although postmaterialist values are increasing among the first post-communist generation in the most economically advantaged post-communist countries, materialist values are also increasing. The study also examines the impact of religious factors on the materialist-postmaterialist value change in the first post-communist generation.