Description
Book SynopsisTransforming Socialist Economies presents - for the first time - an account of the initial attempts to transform the centrally planned economies of Czechoslovakia and Poland into modern capitalist economies.
Both countries have adopted 'shock therapy' aimed at the fastest possible transition but with disappointing results. Poland appears to be on the brink of permanent depression and political paralysis. Czechoslovakia is only now beginning to show the first signs of economic recovery and faces the prospect of partition. In seeking to explain these disappointing results, Dr Myant critically analyses recent economic performance and past attempts at economic reform. He shows the weaknesses in the theory behind 'shock therapy', considers the political processes that led to its adoption and analyses its impact on the economy, on relations in the workplace and on political life. The result is a provocative and enlightening view of economic reform which will be essential reading for economists and political scientists.
Trade Review'Transforming socialist economies is an interesting and well underlined study.' -- Polish Connection Newsletter
'The book makes an interesting contribution to the present knowledge of recent changes in Central Europe.' -- Erika Kvapilova, Economic and Industrial Democracy
'This series is an important series which applies academic analysis and clarity of thought to the recent traumatic events in Eastern and Central Europe. . . . The result is a provocative and enlightening view of economic reform which will be interesting reading for economists, political scientists and those concerned with the economic transition of Eastern Europe.' -- European Foundation for Management Development
'. . . the book will be useful for the study of the early years of economic transformation in Poland and, before its breakup, Czechoslovakia. On top of that, it will be useful for the eventual formulation of a theory of economic transformation in post-Communist societies.' -- J.L Porket, The Slavonic Review
Table of ContentsPart 1 Reforming the socialist economy: the failure of planning; the limits of reform. Part 2 Economic transformation in Poland: the legacy of the 1980's; the balcerowicz programme; the economy under balcerowicz; the search for alternatives. Part 3 Economic transformation in Czechoslovakia: the paralysis of reform; the triumph of monetarism; the big shock; the battle for new policies; the rush to privatise. Part 4 Conclusion: successes and disappointments.
