Successful transformations?

的创建Market Economies in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic

Studies of Communism in Transition series

Martin Myant, European Trade Union Institute, Belgium, Frank Fleischer and Kurt Hornschild, German Institute for Economic Research, Berlin and Ruzena Vintrová, Karel Zeman and Zdenek Soucek, Czech Statistical Office, Czechoslovak Trade Bank and Management Focus International, Prague

Successful Transformations? contrasts the recent experience of economic development in Eastern Germany and the Czech Republic. It provides a comparative up-to-date account critically assessing the transition from central planning to a free market economy. The book highlights the very different paths that these two economies have taken. Eastern Germany has been absorbed almost entirely into the political and economic framework of West Germany. In contrast the Czech Republic – which is widely acclaimed to have made the speediest transition – has from the outset adopted an independent line.

‘Taken together, the eight chapters are an extremely good account of these two experiences, show clear strengths and weaknesses of the transition processes, and present facts enough to be open to a wide readership. Some interesting points are put forward and the authors offer guidance on transitional tactics.’
– Bruno S. Sergi, Kyklos