JEANINE BRAITHWAITE is Economist in the Europe and Central Asia Department of the World Bank.CHRISTIAAN GROOTAERT is Senior Economist in the Social Development Department of the World Bank.BRANKO MILANOVIC is Principal Economist in the Poverty and Human Resources Division of the World Bank.

• Preface The Transition Economies in the Study: How Similar and Different They Are; B.Milanovic The Determinants of Poverty in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union; C.Grootaert & J.Braithwaite The Role of Social Assistance in Addressing Poverty; B.Milanovic Policy Recommendations and General Conclusions; J.Braithwaite, C. Grootaert & B.Milanovic

JEANINE BRAITHWAITE is Economist in the Europe and Central Asia Department of the World Bank.CHRISTIAAN GROOTAERT is Senior Economist in the Social Development Department of the World Bank.BRANKO MILANOVIC is Principal Economist in the Poverty and Human Resources Division of the World Bank.

• Preface The Transition Economies in the Study: How Similar and Different They Are; B.Milanovic The Determinants of Poverty in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union; C.Grootaert & J.Braithwaite The Role of Social Assistance in Addressing Poverty; B.Milanovic Policy Recommendations and General Conclusions; J.Braithwaite, C. Grootaert & B.Milanovic

JEANINE BRAITHWAITE is Economist in the Europe and Central Asia Department of the World Bank.CHRISTIAAN GROOTAERT is Senior Economist in the Social Development Department of the World Bank.BRANKO MILANOVIC is Principal Economist in the Poverty and Human Resources Division of the World Bank.

• Preface The Transition Economies in the Study: How Similar and Different They Are; B.Milanovic The Determinants of Poverty in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union; C.Grootaert & J.Braithwaite The Role of Social Assistance in Addressing Poverty; B.Milanovic Policy Recommendations and General Conclusions; J.Braithwaite, C. Grootaert & B.Milanovic