'The methodological approach presented in this book is clear and interesting and the book deserves to be recommended to economists and students.' Economics of Planning, 27, 1994

• and Summary of Main Points.- 1. General Framework.- 1.1 Three schools.- 1.2 Cycles or fluctuations ?.- 1.3 Socialism.- 1.4 Statistical definition of investments.- 1.5 Theory and statistical reality.- 1.6 The relevance of cycle models.- 1.7 Formalised summary.- 2. Three Schools of Thought.- 2.1 Control theory models.- 2.2 Endogenous models.- 2.3 Common elements.- 2.4 Exogenous models.- 3. Measurement of Investment Fluctuations.- 3.1 Distortion of GINV data.- 3.2 Traps of time series analysis.- 3.3 East-West comparison of GINV fluctuations.- 3.4 Synchronization of investment fluctuations.- 4. Common Patterns and Particularities - A Historical Analysis.- 4.1 The method.- 4.2 Construction output.- 4.3 Industrial output.- 4.4 Imports.- 4.5 Standard of living.- 4.6 Domestic utilization of NMP.- 4.7 Role of the harvest and foreign credits.- 5. Closing Remarks on Measurement and Control.- 5.1 The measurement trap.- 5.2 The definition trap.- 5.3 Micro-economic conditions of measurement.- Appendix I: Two Hungarian Case Studies.- 1. The impact of investment fluctuations on the labour market.- 2. Maintenance - capital repair - investment.- 3. Conclusions.- Appendix II: Basic Data.