Patricia Dillon, Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Professor of Contemporary European Studies and Professor of Economics, Scripps College, US and Frank C. Wykoff, Eldon Smith Professor of Economics, Pomona College, US

• Contents: Preface Part I: Theoretical Foundations 1. The Withering Away of Communism 2. The Political Economy of Reform 3. Why Private Markets Work 4. Growth Models for Assessing Reforms 5. How Each Reform Promotes Growth 6. Challenges Facing Reformers Part II: Country Chapters 7. Bulgaria: Impatient but Indecisive 8. Are the Czechs Capitalist Superstars? 9. Estonia is Headed West 10. A Taste of Hungarian Goulash 11. Can Russia Make It? 12. Will the Slovaks Stay the Course? 13. The Long and Winding Road Part III: Appendices A. Reforms in Growth Models B. Political Influence, Economic Performance and Reform Efforts: An Econometric Analysis of Six Newly Independent Countries, 1989–1999 Bibliography Index

'The book's focus is on select major background forces that influence (either constructively or otherwise) the reform policies being adopted by decision makers at a given phase of an economy's reform path. Empirical verification of the relationship between non economic variables and the implementation of select economic policies and their resulting consequences constitutes a valuable contribution to the fields of economic research. Considering the scope of the authors' research focus, the cogent materials are succinctly presented in a readable fashion that will be accessible to students and scholars in the field of systematic transformation. . . . This volume will be of interest to students and scholars interested in the field of economic restructuring and transitional economics.'