Economic performance in the transition economies: a comparative perspective

The economic performance of the former communist countries has been generally mediocre over the first ten years of transition, and has varied widely between countries, with the Central-East European countries doing best and the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries doing worst. The key underlying factors determining the pattern of inter-country variation have related to initial conditions and investment, with macroeconomic stabilisation playing an important facilitating role. National S&T systems as such have played no role whatsoever