At the same time, plant sites were either abandoned,'with few resources available for clean-up, or privatized under conditions that did not clearly establish environmental liability. Spurred by privatization and land reform, farming rebounded, giving the economy a strong jolt upward. In 1997, however, Albania experienced tremendous political instability and civil unrest. The consequences for the economy were severe, and Albania continues to struggle with a number of serious difficulties to this day. The vast majority of industries remain shut, and unemployment is high.
Poverty is widespread.
One result of continued economic decline has been migration of the population. Many leave Albania in search of better economic prospects elsewhere. Others move from the country's more economically depressed, rural regions to the cities. The problem is compounded by rapid population growth. Tirana's population has more than doubled in the past ten years.