An Institutional Approach to Transition Processes Routledge Revivals Series

This title was first published in 2002: This multi-perspective account of societal change in transition economies offers cutting-edge analysis of the economic, legal, bureaucratic and political impact of institutional collapse and reconstruction, and the ensuing social uncertainty, also paying attention to the historical and cultural aspects of such events. Employing North's theory of Institutional Economics, the book also contains empirical data on various aspects of development in two Central Asian countries, the three Baltic Republics and the Czech and Slovak Republics. The combination of this empirical data with theoretical insight lends realism and credibility to the analysis and helps to underline the argument that transition processes are largely unique. A comprehensive synthesis of complex factors, the book is an impressive resource for both students and scholars of the transition process.

Contents: What makes transition economies special?; A theoretical framework for analyzing transition economies; The influence of informal institutions on economic decisions in transition economies; Political reforms and institutional change in transition economies; The role of socio-economic performance during transition; Enterprise restructuring; An illustration of transition paths using catastrophe theory; Concluding remarks; Bibliography; Index.

After graduating in Economics in 1992, Elma van de Mortel began her Ph.D study at the Tinbergen Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam. She wrote this book whilst working there as Assistant Researcher. Her research has been focused on Comparative and Institutional Economics. Dr van de Mortel currently works at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.