Economic Transition in Eastern Europe and Russia

The most obvious and controversial difference between reform strategies is in the pace of transition. Previous theories of development have focused on the slow growth of Third World countries into modern economies. Some experts have ascribed current failures in Eastern Europe to the instantaneous liberalization of economies and the forceful application of tight monetary policies.

They argue for a more gradual introduction of free markets, with the retention of some state control, in order to avoid declining outputs. But this theory is contradicted by the fact that the most successful Eastern European countries, Poland and the Czech Republic, are those that initiated the most dramatic and rapid reforms. The authors of Economic Transition show how educated, relatively modern societies can make major changes in political and economic institutions almost overnight.

The goods that countries produced under communism are different from those that can be efficiently produced in a free market. Some industries will collapse while others will flourish, and during this adjustment period, there are inevitable declines in output and painful layoffs. Evidence shows that a significant increase in unemployment is an unavoidable consequence of economic reform whether the government is moving rapidly or gradually.

This temporary problem can be partially cushioned by a social safety net.