The ethnic composition of the population has changed significantly since the end of the Second World War, when many people from the USSR moved to Estonia. The right to citizenship is a major political issue. Having remained above 2.0 for 22 years, the total fertility rate declined from 2.12 in 1985 to 1.7 in 1992 and 1.45 in 1993. Crude death rate and live births per 1000 population Between 1979 and 1991, the marriage rate per 1000 inhabitants decreased to 6.6 but the divorce rate remained fairly stable at 3.7. In addition, some textbooks need to be rewritten to reflect current views of politics, history and management.
Privatization is one of the most successful elements in the economic reform programme.
Since 1990, the pace of price liberalization has largely determined inflation. Compensation in the government sector has lagged behind other sectors, partly because the pay scale is linked to the minimum wage and does not take full account of inflation. In September 1991, Estonia applied for membership of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Estonia introduced its own currency, the kroon, in 1992. Vulnerable groups, such as unemployed mothers, pensioners and invalids, are eligible for special assistance.