Economic differences between those that live in Eastern and Western Europe are profound. The difference in income between those living in the two areas is greater than the income difference between blacks and whites in the United States. Geography, history, and economic systems account for these differences between Europeans. Perhaps most important to note is that government control of the economy was most prominent in Eastern Europe under Communist regimes. The more governments interfere with the economy, the lower the standard of living is for the people.
Statistic Source: Intellectuals and Race by Thomas Sowell
Map source: https://medium.com/discourse/why-western-and-eastern-europe-are-different-in-their-levels-of-development-d71aebcb5c80