Cambridge University Press has just published my new book, How Capitalism Was Built: The Transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, which I hope will be of interest to you.

This page is available online at www.cambridge.org/us/9780521683821

How Capitalism Was Built: The Transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia Anders Aslund
Peterson Institute for International Economics
Paperback
(ISBN-13: 9780521683821)
Also available in Hardback
Published August 2007
In stock
$25.99 (Z)
Lecturers can request examination copies for course consideration.
How Capitalism Was Built tells the story of how the former communist countries in East and Central Europe, Russia, and Central Asia became market economies from 1989 to 2006. It discusses preconditions, political breakthroughs, and alternative reform programs. Three major chapters deal with the deregulation of prices and trade, price stabilization, and privatization. Early radical reform made output decline the least. Social developments have been perplexing but mixed. The building of democracy and the establishment of the rule of law have been far less successful. International assistance has been limited but helpful. This region has now become highly dynamic, but corruption remains problematic.

Contents

Introduction: a world transformed; 1. Communism and its demise; 2. Shock therapy vs. gradualism; 3. Output: slump and recovery; 4. Liberalization: the creation of a market economy; 5. From hyperinflation to financial stability; 6. Privatization: the establishment of private property rights; 7. An inefficient social system; 8. Democracy vs. authoritarianism; 9. From crime toward law; 10. The role of oligarchs; 11. The role of international assistance; 12. Conclusions: a world transformed.

Details
7 tables
Page extent: 384 pages
Size: 228 x 152 mm
Cambridge University Press 2007.

Anders Åslund
Senior Fellow
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1903
Tel: (202) 454-1341
Fax: (202) 659-3225
Email: aaslund@petersoninstitute.org
www.petersoninstitute.org.