What factors determine the success of economic transition, development and growth? Examining the contrast between East German shock-therapy and Hungary's gradualism, the book generates a set of generalisable conditions for economic development which imply some degree of state intervention and strategy. A stability-oriented incomes policy and a carefully managed integration strategy can enable sustainable export surpluses, a competitive currency and macroeconomic stability, whilst providing sufficient room for economic restructuring, structural transformation and technological catch-up. The dangers of premature integration are examined.

Autorentext

DR. JOHANNES STEPHAN is Research Fellow at the Institute for Economic Research Halle. Following his graduation from the Freie Universität Berlin in 1994, he undertook a doctoral research project on the economics of systemic transformation and economic development in post-socialist economies which he finalised in 1997 at the Institute for German Studies, University of Birmingham.

Inhalt

List of Illustrations List of Tables Abbreviations PART I: INTRODUCTION Introduction PART II: THE SHOCK-THERAPY IN THE NEW BUNDESLÄNDER East Germany's Economic Integration and 'Socialist Legacies' German Monetary Union and Currency Reform German Unification and the Prospects for Catch-Up Development PART III: HUNGARY'S GRADUALISM AND CATCH-UP DEVELOPMENT The Development of a Financial Sector in Hungary Monetary Stabilisation Policies in Hungary: Constraints and Opportunities Hungarian Foreign Trade and Catch-Up Development The 'Austerity Programme': A Strategic Reorientation? PART IV: CONCLUSIONS Conclusions Bibliography Index