Book
From Shock to Therapy

The Political Economy of Postsocialist Transformation

The great transformation undertaken by the countries of the former communist bloc exhibits immense diversity in terms of initial conditions, shifting target models, consistency, paths, speed, progress to date, and economic performance. This is the first comprehensive study of the economics and politics of postsocialism to be written by an author so deeply and so successfully involved in the reform process. Many people writing on the reform process offer advice that is not really credible; as a member of the Polish government, and architect of the successful Polish reform, Grzegorz Kolodko actually solved many of the difficulties of transition, which allows him to come forward here with policy proposals and long-term forecasts. The treatment of the transition from plan to market as a historical process is an important feature of the book. The author claims that there is no historical fatality that sound policies in the present are more determining than the favourable or unfavourable legacies of the past. The aim is to create and maintain the conditions for sustainable growth and durable development.

Table of contents
  1. 1. Introduction
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  2. Departure
    2. Transition from Socialism: Where to?
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  3. Departure
    3. Different Points of Departure
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  4. Detours
    4. Systemic Change and Economic Performance
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  5. Detours
    5. Transitional Recession: Expectations, Reality, Interpretations
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  6. Detours
    6. The Washington Consensus Revisited
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  7. The Journey
    7. Transition Policy and Development Strategy
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  8. The Journey
    8. Transition from Plan to Market: Concept and Implementation
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  9. The Journey
    9. Financial Reform and Policy
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  10. The Journey
    10. The Redistribution of the Costs and Benefits of Transition
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  11. Arrival
    11. Marketization and Democratization
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  12. Arrival
    12. From Recovery to Sustained Growth
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  13. Arrival
    13. The Internationalization of Postsocialist Economies
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  14. The Future
    14. The Long-term Perspectives
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
  15. The Future
    15. Doubts and Conclusions
    Grzegorz W. Kolodko
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