Economic Transition in Central and Eastern Europe: Planting the Seeds

by Daniel Gros, Alfred Steinherr

Overview

Analyzing the key problems facing the transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe, this book describes the legacy of the central planners and the need for radical reforms. It documents the outstanding successes and failures, and demonstrates how some countries have graduated from "transition" to "integration" through membership in the European Union. The study concludes by indicating how the EU could help the poor performers through inclusion in a continent-wide integrated economic area. The book appeals to students in economics, comparative politics and area studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521826389
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/25/2004
Edition description:	2ND, UPDAT
Pages:	374
Product dimensions:	7.09(w) x 10.04(h) x 1.18(d)

About the Author

Daniel Gros is the Director of the Centre for European Policy Studies, Brussels and is presently a member of the economic advisory council of the French Prime Minister. His major publications include Open Issues in European Central Banking (2000), EMU and Capital Markets (2000), European Monetary Integration, from the EMS to EMU (1992, 1998) and precursor to this volume, Winds of Change: Economic Transition in Central and Eastern Europe (1995) which he co-authored.

Professor Alfred Steinherr is Rector at the Free University of Bolzano, Italy and Chief Economist of the European Investment Bank. His previous positions include Head of Research at the European Investment Bank, Economic Adviser to the European Commission and Adviser to the International Monetary Fund. He is author of Derivatives: The Wild Beast of Finance (2000) and is joint author of Winds of Change: Economic Transition in Central and Eastern Europe (1995).

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. The Rise and Decline of Communism: An Overview: 1. From pre-war Russia to the fall of Communism; 2. The obsession with growth; Part II. Transition: 1990–2000: 3. Transition: the job; 4. Transition: ten years later; 5. Transition: unfinished business; Part III: Extreme Cases for Reform: Scope for Disagreements: 6. German unification: an example of big-bang reform; 7. The disintegration of the Soviet Union; 8. Russia: after a lost decade Phoenix rises from the ashes?; Part IV. The New Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals: 9. Eastern enlargement; 10. Saving the Balkans; 11. The outlook; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

"I found the book interesting and exciting."
Slavic Review, John Marangos, Colorado State University

"It is clearly written, and much of it could be easily understood without any formal training of economics. This is quite remarkable, considering the nature of some of the topics covered in the text. The graphics (figures) are excellent and both the graphics (figures) and table are quite effective in illustrating points made in the text. The Introduction does an excellent job of motivating and summarizing the subsequent chapters. I would certainly recommend the book to anyone who would like to learn about the transition process in Central and Eastern Europe."
The Russian Review, Susan J. Linz, Michigan State University

From the Publisher