Skip to main content
Log in

Explaining economic performance during transition: What do we know?

  • Report
  • Published:
Intereconomics

Abstract

While after the collapse of the communist bloc virtually all of its former member countries embarked on market-oriented reforms, the individual countries followed different routes and experienced different outcomes. In all cases, however, output declined steeply during the early years of transition. What were the main causes behind the severe contraction of output? Why have some countries managed to overcome the transformation crisis far better than others?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Cf. A. Aslund, P. Boone, S. Johnson: How to Stabilize: Lessons from Post-communist Countries, in: Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, No. 1, 1996, pp. 217–313.

  2. O. E. Williamson: The Institutions and Governance of Economic Development and Reform, in: O. E. Williamson (ed.): The Mechanisms of Governance, New York 1996, pp. 322–343.

  3. Cf. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: Transition Report Update, London 1998.

  4. Cf. C. Cottarelli, P. Doyle: Taming Inflation in the Transition Economies, in: Finance and Development, June 1999, pp. 9–11; V. Tanzi: Transition and the Changing Role of Government, in: Finance and Development, June 1999, pp. 20–23.

  5. cf. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, op. cit.: Transition Report Update, London 1998. Heritage Foundation: Index of Economic Freedom, Washington 1999.

  6. Cf. A. Przeworski: Democracy and the Market. Political and Economic Reforms in Eastern Europe and Latin America, Cambridge 1991; N. van Long, H. Siebert: A Model of the Socialist Firm in Transition to a Market Economy, Kiel Working Papers, No. 479, 1991; J. C. Brada, A. E. King: Is There a J-Curve for the Economic Transition from Socialism to Capitalism?, in: Economics of Planning, Vol. 25, 1992, pp. 37–53; O. Blanchard: The Economics of Post-Communist Transition, Cambridge 1997.

  7. Cf. E. Hernandez-Cata: Liberalization and the Behavior of Output During the Transition from Plan to Market, in: IMF Staff Papers, Vol. 44, 1997, pp. 405–429; O. Blanchard, op. cit. The Economics of Post-Communist Transition, Cambridge 1997.

  8. Cf. the contribution by M. Mussa: Government Policy and the Adjustment Process, in: J. Bhagwati (ed.): Import Competition and Response, Chicago, London 1982, pp. 73–120.

  9. Cf. O. Blanchard, M. Kremer: Disorganization, in: Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 112, 1997, pp. 1091–1126.

  10. Cf. O. Blanchard, op. cit. The Economics of Post-Communist Transition, Cambridge 1997.

  11. Cf. in general D. Rodrik: Policy Uncertainty and Private Investment in Developing Countries, in: Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 36, 1991, pp. 229–242; N. Funke: Credibility of Government Policy: Lessons for Economies in Transition, in: INTERECONOMICS, Vol. 28, 1993, pp. 73–78.

  12. Cf. P. J. J. Welfens: Economic Reforms in Eastern Europe: Basic Problems, Options and Opportunities, in: INTERECONOMICS, Vol. 26, 1991, pp. 214–222.

  13. Cf. G. A. Calvo, F. Coricelli: Output Collapse in Eastern Europe. The Role of Credit, in: IMF Staff Papers, Vol. 40, 1993, pp. 32–52.

  14. Cf. J. C. Brada, A. E. King, op. cit., Is There a J-Curve for the Economic Transition from Socialism to Capitalism?, in: Economics of Planning, Vol. 25, 1992, pp. 37–53; E. Borensztein, D. G. Demekas, J. G. Ostry: An Empirical Analysis of the Output Declines in Three Eastern European Countries, in: IMF Staff Papers, Vol. 40, pp. 1–31.

  15. Cf. A. Aslund, P. Boone, S. Johnson, op. cit. How to Stabilize: Lessons from Post-communist Countries ,in: Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, No. 1, 1996, pp. 217–313.

  16. Cf. C. J. McDermott, R. F. Wescott: An Empirical Analysis of Fiscal Adjustments, in: IMF Staff Papers, Vol. 43, 1996, pp. 725–753; A. Alesina, S. Ardagna: Tales of Fiscal Adjustments, in: Economic Policy, Vol. 27, 1998, pp. 487–545.

  17. P. Hare, T. Revesz: Hungary's Transition to a Market Economy: The Case Against a ‘Big-Bang’, in: Economic Policy, Vol. 14, 1992, pp. 227–264; P. Aghion, O. Blanchard: On the Speed of Transition in Eastern Europe, in: P. Hare, J. R. Davis (eds.): Transition to the Market Economy, Vol. 1, London, New York 1997, pp. 63–98.

  18. Cf. R. J. Caballero, M. L. Hammour: On the Ilis of Adjustment, in: Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 51, 1996, pp. 161–192; P. Aghion, O. Blanchard, op. cit. On the Speed of Transition in Eastern Europe, in: P. Hare, J. R. Davis (eds.): Transition to the Market Economy, Vol. 1, London, New York 1997, pp. 63–98.

  19. Cf. A. Berg, J. Sachs: Structural Adjustment and International Trade in Eastern Europe: The Case of Poland, in: Economic Policy, Vol. 14, 1992, pp. 117–173; K. Murphy, A. Shleifer, R. Vishny: The Transition to a Market Economy: Pitfalls of Partial Reform, in: Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol 107, 1992, pp. 889–906.

  20. Cf. P. Murrell: Evolutionary and Radical Approaches to Economic Reform, in: Economics of Planning, Vol. 25, pp. 79–95.

  21. Cf. D. Rodrik: Promises, Promises: Credible Policy Reforms via Signalling, in: Economic Journal, Vol. 98, 1989, pp. 756–772; N. Funke: Timing and Sequencing of Reforms: Compeling Views and the Role of Credibility, in: Kyklos, Vol. 46, 1993, pp. 337–362.

  22. Cf. A. Drazen, P. R. Masson: Credibility of Politics versus Credibility of Policymakers, in: Quarterly Journal of Economics, Vol. 109, 1994, pp. 735–754; P. Aghion, O. Blanchard, op. cit. On the Speed of Transition in Eastern Europe, in: P. Hare, J. R. Davis (eds.): Transition to the Market Economy, Vol. 1, London, New York 1997, pp. 63–98.

  23. Cf. M. de Melo et al.: Circumstance and Choice: The Role of Initial Conditions and Policies in Transition Economies, World Bank Working Paper No. 1866, Washington, 1997; O. Havrylyshyn, I. Izvorski, R. van Rooden: Recovery and Growth in Transition Economies 1990–97: A Stylized Regression Analysis, IMF Working Paper No. 141, Washington 1998; A. Berg et al.: The Evolution of Output in Transition Economies: Explaining the Differences, IMF Working Paper No. 73, Washington 1999.

  24. Cf. G. Krueger, M. Ciolko: A Note on Initial Conditions and Liberalization During Transition, in: Journal of Comparative Economics, Vol. 26, 1998, pp. 718–734.

  25. Cf. footnote 25. M. de Melo et al.: Circumstance and Choice: The Role of Initial Conditions and Policies in Transition Economies, World Bank Working Paper No. 1866, Washington, 1997; O. Havrylyshyn, I. Izvorski, R. van Rooden: Recovery and Growth in Transition Economies 1990–97: A Stylized Regression Analysis, IMF Working Paper No. 141, Washington 1998; A. Berg et al.: The Evolution of Output in Transition Economies: Explaining the Differences, IMF Working Paper No. 73, Washington 1999.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pitlik, H. Explaining economic performance during transition: What do we know?. Intereconomics 35, 38–45 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02927899

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02927899

Keywords

Navigation