In 1992, millions of Czechs became property-owning capitalists virtually overnight  through a government program dubbed “voucher privatization” – all without achievement, entrepreneurship, or competitive drive. Nearly thirty-five years later, they have mortgages instead of shares, property seizures instead of profits, and debts to the Czech Social Security Administration instead of their “family silver”. What remains of this era – when anything seemed possible and almost anything was allowed – except low wages, unaffordable housing, and romantic boomer memories? In their live show on the Autumn Depression Tour 2026, the Bittner Brothers take a bitter inventory of a transformed Czech Republic and test the suspicion that Professor Klaus, the author of the 1993 reform, may have been right all along.

Speakers

Jan Bittner

Economist and Analyst

Petr Bittner

Journalist