Suchergebnisse

In the early phase of transition that started with the 1990s, Central and Eastern European Countries pursued economic restructuring of the enterprise sector that involved massive injections of state support. Also foreign investment from the West and facilitation of the development of a market economy involved massive injections of state support. With their accession to the European Union (EU), levels and forms of state aid came under critical review by the European Commission. This inquiry investigates whether the integration of the new member states operates on a level playing field with respect to state aid. Quantitative and qualitative analysis is relied upon to answer this key, as well as other, related questions. Findings suggest that in recent years a level playing field across the EU has indeed emerged. State aid in the new EU member countries is rather handled more strictly than laxer compared to the 'old' EU countries. -- Competition policy ; economic transition ; EU enlargement ; state aid

This book analyzes Germany's economic performance at the turn of the twenty-first century. The period under observation strecthes from Germany's unification in 1990 over the death of the German Mark to first experiences with the Euro, with East Germany providing a hot topic of debate.

The aim of this study is to clarify, whether and where the widespread opinion that systemic change from socialism to capitalism went along with dramatically rising inequality is true and how income distribution does affect the overall growth performance of transition countries. The countries under review are: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Russia. The findings are analysed against the background of convergence or divergence respectively vis-à-vis the European Union (EU) level of income and income distribution. Here Germany, being the neighbouring country and biggest EU economy, is taken as benchmark. For the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland it can be shown that income distribution remained relatively stable before and throughout the transition period on the basis of so far unpublished data from the Luxemburg Income Study database. Russia however displays a sharp increase in income distribution.These results are illustrated by Lorenz curves and underpinned by developments in functional income distribution and social transfers. An attempt is made to locate these transition countries on a stylised Kuznets curve and further qualitative factors referring to growth and equality are considered. (Comparative Economic Studies / SWP)

The aim of this study is to clarify, whether and where the widespread opinion that systemic change from socialism to capitalism went along with dramatically rising inequality is true and how income distribution does affect the overall growth performance of transition countries. The countries under review are: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Russia. The findings are analyzed against the background of convergence or divergence respectively vis-à-vis the European Union (EU) level of income and income distribution. Here Germany, being the neighboring country and biggest EU economy, is taken as benchmark. For the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland it can be shown that income distribution remained relatively stable before and throughout the transition period on the basis of so far unpublished data from the Luxemburg Income Study database. Russia however displays a sharp increase in income distribution. These results are illustrated by Lorenz curves and underpinned by developments in functional income distribution and social transfers. An attempt is made to locate these transition countries on a stylized Kuznets curve and further qualitative factors referring to growth and equality are considered.

The period of transition from socialism to capitalism in parts of Europe and Asia over the past 25 years has attracted considerable interest in academia and beyond. From the Editors of Palgrave's iconic series 'Studies in Economic Transition' comes the Palgrave Dictionary of Emerging Markets and Transition Economics. This dictionary addresses the needs of students, lecturers and the interested general public to quickly find definitions and explanations of topics, institutions, personalities and processes in this historical phase of changing societies, which as such is not concluded. Today newly emerging market economies try to learn from experiences made by transition economies. Those who love The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics will enjoy the format in this Dictionary, which uses an encyclopedia-based approach where articles not only define the terms but provide an overview of the evolution of the term or theory and also touch on the current debates.

The first book in the Studies in Economic Transition series applies the theory of economic development to the economy of East Germany. Eight years after the unification of Germany, the book provides a comprehensive and much needed assessment of the transition process in the East, its impact on the German economy as a whole and the important broader lessons for European integration and enlargement. The unique economic experiment of the unification of the German economies provided an excellent opportunity for different schools of economic theory to be tested and examined. The contributors to this book take full advantage of this challenge.