Social Cohesion in European Union Countries in the Years 1995-2003

The aim of the article was the evaluation of social cohesion in countries of the 'old' European Union in the years 1995-2003. An own method of social cohesion quantification was applied. The final ranging was based on 3 indexes: (1) index of living standard, (2) index of income inequality, (3) index of poverty. For assessing living standard, understood as the level of meeting the needs of the population resulting from consumption of the man-made material goods and services as well as from using the natural and social environment, one of the taxonomic method was used - the method of the pattern of development. Two indexes of income inequality were suggested: s80/s20 income quintile share ratio and Gini coefficient. The poverty was estimated by the share of persons with an equivalised disposable income below the risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60% of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers). The final evaluation of social cohesion level was based on the sum of ranges reached by indicators pointed above.