Economics of Transition

MARIE LAVIGNE, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Economics, taught at the Universities of Strasbourg (1959-69), Paris (1969-91), and Pau (1991-96). At the University of Paris, she chaired the Centre for International Economics of the Socialist Countries, the first academic research unit in France dealing with centrally planned economies. In 1996 she retired from the university and is now Senior Research fellow at ISMEA (Institute for Applied Mathematics and Economics), Paris. She has travelled extensively in Eastern Europe and Russia, both before and after the collapse of the communist regimes. She has written and edited many books and articles on the economics and international economic relations of the area. One of the world's leading authorities on transition she has taught widely in both Europe and North America.

'This is an excellent overview of a wide range of the transition issues. It covers the European economies in transition (including those of the USSR), their problems and achievements before and since 1989. In its understanding of the major issues and its objective and highly readable analysis, Professor Lavigne's book has few serious rivals.' - Mica Panic, Fellow in Economics, Selwyn College, University of Cambridge '...this is an excellent introductory book on the transition of the socialist economies in Europe. The breadth and depth of the analyses are rarely achieved in similar publications on the subject. The book is highly recommended to readers with an interest in the historical background, the current state of play and the prospects for the transition.' - Yiping Huang, Journal of Comparative Economics 'Literature on transition tends to be a highly perishable commodity. A rare exception is Marie Lavigne's book...what makes this book different? Probably the thorough attention that the author pays to the take-off conditions of the transition process: the framework of central planning and political control under Soviet-type real socialism...substantially revised to include the lessons learned during the past decade.' - Martin Schrenk, In Transition 'Lavigne provides an excellent overview of a wide range of transition issues. Her critical, objective and highly readable analysis ranges from the basic features, achievements and the ultimate failure of the socialist economies to some of the key aspects of the transition process...in its range and understanding of major issues, this book has few serious rivals.' - Dr Mica Panic, University of Cambridge Reviews of the first edition '...Her excellent book will certainly be placed on the reading list by teachers of very many courses, myself included...Marie Lavigne is an outstanding, highly knowledgeable representative...One of the book's main merits is its very rich store of information. It contains much data and a great number of lucid and informative tables.' - Janos Kornai, Harvard University and Collegium Budapest '...an excellent, well-informed, well-researched reference book with a broad range. It merits its place on the reading lists of courses on transition economics.' - Alfred Steinherr, European Investment Bank, Journal of Economics of Transition '...an excellent introduction to the economic history of the ex-communist countries...' - F. Barry, Le Courier des Pays de l'Est 'Given its systematic and comprehensive character, this will make an excellent textbook or primer for the novice but can also serve as a useful reference volume for anyone who wants to look up from his own more specialized focus and see the broader background and to consider the distilled judgement of a long-term observer as to how we ought to think about this historic transformation.' - Robert Campbell, Indiana University

• Preface PART 1: THE PAST: REAL SOCIALISMThe Bases of the Socialist Economic SystemHistoryThe Reforms: Experiences and FailuresThe PerformanceInternational Economic RelationsPART 2: THE PRESENT: TRANSITION IN THE MAKINGThe End of the SystemMacroeconomic StabilisationPrivatization and Structural ReformsReintegrating the World EconomyWhen is Transition Over?ConclusionBibliographyIndex.