Abstract
How can we rebuild the competitiveness of the so-called periphery countries? This chapter discusses the following two research questions: What are the important factors that distinguish between successful and less successful CEE countries during their transition period? What is a possible lesson from the transition process in the CEE countries for the contemporary European periphery? The first part of this chapter contains initial remarks, terminology and a classification of the CEE countries according to their successfulness in the transition process. The second part provides a list of crucial factors: the level of (non-elite) political stability, the quality of the institutional framework, the maturity and compatibility of informal institutions and the initial level of economic development. The third part states some factors of minor importance for countries’ success in the transition process. The conclusion offers a summary of the previous outcomes and moreover, a discussion of the research questions. Similar to the CEECs before their entrance into the EU, the periphery countries need to find a direction to pursue during the next 10–15 years. Budgetary savings are inevitable; nevertheless, positive long-term visions should also be formulated.
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Notes
- 1.
Based on the results of the transition, Åslund (2008) distinguishes among three groups of CEE countries: radical reformers (Central Europe, the Baltics) versus gradual reformers (South-Eastern Europe, most of the post-Soviet states) versus countries that have maintained the old dictatorships (Belarus, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan).
Similarly, Lane and Myant (2007) distinguish among three groups of post-Communist countries: fairly successful transition countries (Estonia, Slovenia, East Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine) versus hybrid economies (Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, the Western Balkans) versus statist societies (Belarus, China).
- 2.
Furthermore, within the entire group of new EU Member States, only the Romanian case involves a semi-presidential system.
- 3.
According to Tošovský (2000), only 2 % of Czechoslovak national income in the 1980s was produced in the private sector.
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Kouba, L. (2016). A Lesson for the Contemporary European Periphery from the Transition Process of the CEE Countries. In: Huber, P., Nerudová, D., Rozmahel, P. (eds) Competitiveness, Social Inclusion and Sustainability in a Diverse European Union. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17299-6_9
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