JOHN PICKLES is the Earl N. Phillips Distinguished Professor of International Studies in the Department of Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. His main research interests are in regional economic transformation in Eastern Europe, the political economy of European integration, geographies of the global apparel industry, and cultural studies. He has published numerous articles in these fields, as well as several books, the most recent of which are A History of Spaces: Cartographic Reason, Mapping, and the Geo-Coded World and State and Society in Post-Socialist Economies.

• Globalization and Regionalization in Socialist and Post-Socialist Economies; J.Pickles Factories of the "Red Bourgeoisie" in the Urals during the NEP; R.Khaziev The Soviet Pharmaceutical Industry and European Houses during the NEP; M.Schaeffer Conroy Japanese FDI in Central Europe and China: Consequences and Trends; K.Morita and Y.Chen Developing Emerging Bond Markets; P.Haiss and N.Chou Changes in Poland's Industrial Policy Resulting from System Transformation; K.Rosiek A New Role for Banks in Poland; E.Mirecka The Influence of European Integration on the Institutional Situation of Women in Labour Market in Poland; A.Zachorowska-Mazurkiewicz Problems Linked with Convergence Criteria Fulfillment in New EU Member States: Exemplification of Poland's Experience; K.?ukrowska Romania's Accession Perspectives: The Necessity to Include Special Safeguard Clauses in Its Accession Treaty; ?.Panaitescu Consequences of EU-Enlargement on the Romanian Border Regions; H-H.Rieser and C.Waack The Property Rights Hurdle: Reconciling EU and Russian Traditions; S.Hedlund Contingent Property Rights: The Cost to the EU of Russia's Accession; S.Rosefielde