Ben Slay – författare

An examination of the rise of the private sector in command economies.

Even in developed capitalist economies, markets function poorly without regulation by competitive forces. The countries that once were part of the Eastern bloc are introducing market forces into industries created according to the monopolistic logic of central planning, so that competition policy plays an important role in the transition to capitalism. This interdisciplinary study examines how barriers to the development of competitive markets and competition policy are being overcome in Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Mongolia. A group of U.S., Russian, and East European specialists explores the institutions and programs of competition policy as well as its role in the overall post-Communist transition. Providing a complete, comparative picture of the development of competition policy in a broad cross section of formerly socialist countries, the contributors consider the extent of the post-Communist monopoly problem as well as progress in de-monopolization.

This book aims to acquaint the reader with both the shared features and the diversity of the private and cooperative experience in the nations of the Communist bloc of Europe. It contributes to understanding of the difficulties standing in the way of a private-sector future in command economies.

This book considers the extent of the post-Communist monopoly problem as well as progress in de-monopolization, providing a complete, comparative picture of the development of competition policy in a broad cross section of formerly socialist countries.

The post-communist Central European and Baltic economies are now approaching the end of their transitions to well-functioning market systems. In some respects, the approaching EU accession and conclusion of the transition marks the end of a fascinating period in economic history. Beyond Transition focuses on the economic problems and issues facing Central Europe and the Baltics, the Balkans, and countries belonging to the Commonwealth for Independent States (CIS) in the post-transition context. This focus reflects the need to better understand two processes that are increasingly apparent in the post-communist economic space. First, many of the problems now facing policy makers in post-communist economies - choice of exchange rate regime, tax reform, labour market regulation, improving corporate governance - also face policy makers in developed and developing countries in other parts of the world. Second, the EU's eastern enlargement and the policy agendas facing the first wave accession candidates have major implications for the CIS and Balkan countries that have not been (and may never be) invited to join this process.