A bit of food for the thought - an article describing how more than 90% of the bulgarian people working high income professions declare monthly income of 420 bgn (~215 eur)
http://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2011/03/27/1066110_raboteshtite_skupi_profesii_se_topiat_i_kriiat/
as both my parents are structural engineers, and there are a lot of architects and engineers in my extended family, I can safely say that the actual figures are much higher (in some cases well above 10-15 times higher). For the other proffessions quoted the numbers are even more distorted (even ngo-hippie-pseudo-lawyers take home well more than 420 bgn).

as for the salaries in BAS, well you cannot expect to work in an institution notorious for its misspending, corruption and poor management and be happy with your work place. moreover placing the blame entirely on the bulgarian government is wrong. the country is a full-member of the eu and that is a much greater source of funds than the pity allowance alotted by our government. and I don't think that bas employees are right in placing all the blame at the government, while their management is doing an even poorer job (e.g. they almost never manage to secure any external funding).

anyway, the reason for both issues (people doing everything possible to not pay their taxes, and the academy of sciences employees receiving fuck all for their labour) is in the lack of will for reforms in the last three governments (after the udf/ods one). and the reason for those poor choices couldn't be found further than in the stupidity, forgetfulness and naiveness of the bulgarian people. in other words - you always reap what you sow.