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A striking feature is the vast gap between the wealthy and the poor. These two worlds coexist, yet they are not confined to distinct areas, and they can be encountered anywhere. An area may become attractive to higher-income groups without necessarily seeing any improvement in infrastructure.

The historian Lucian Boia points out: “Romania holds, by far, more negative records than any other country in the European Union. A very substantial book could be written on this subject. The most telling example is the ‘outdoor toilet at the back of the yard’, a true Romanian speciality and a clear sign of underdevelopment. […] Anywhere else in Europe, it would at most be a museum piece.”