This book examines, theoretically and empirically, the key aspects and differences of economic growth as well as the main structural features of development in transition countries, from the 1989 fall of the Berlin wall to the 2008-09 global financial crisis and recession. Topics include institutional change and governance, human capital and social capital, models of growth and employment -- productivity relationship, sectoral/regional structure and trade integration, income distribution/inequality and many features of labour markets performance. Most of the chapters refer to the European transition countries; in some cases a comparative perspective - Eastern versus Western EU countries -- is adopted. This book is useful reading for researchers, scholars and students in the fields of economics of transition, economic growth, development economics, European economic integration, regional economics and labour economics
Foreword; J.Holscher Reflections on Progress in the Transition; B.Schmognerova Introduction; E.Marelli & M.Signorelli Economic Growth and Structural Features of Transition: Theoretical Framework and General Overview; E.Marelli & M.Signorelli PART I: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Governance, Institutions and Growth: Empirical Lessons from the Post-Communist Transition; C.J.Gerry, J.Lee & T.M.Mickiewicz Human Capital and Social Capital as Interacting Factors of Economic Development; A.Kaasa & E.Parts Productivity, Employment and Human Capital in Eastern and Western EU countries; E.Marelli & M.Signorelli Trade-off between Productivity and Employment in Transition Countries: An International Comparison; M.T.Choudhry & B.Ark PART II: STRUCTURAL CHANGE AND REGIONAL PERFORMANCE Sectoral Structure and Productivity in the EU: New Member States' Adjustment to Structural Transformation; T.Paas, J.Sepp &N.J.Scannell The Emerging Economic Geography Setting in New EU Member States: A Comparative Account of Regional Industrial Performance and Adjustment; D.Kallioras, G.Petrakos & M.Tsiapa Is European Trade Integration Completed? Perspectives for CEE Countries; F.Festoc-Louis & N.Roudaut PART III: INCOME INEQUALITY AND LABOUR MARKET EVOLUTION Is Kuznets Hypothesis Valid for Transitional Countries?; O.Demidova Perceived Job Security in Transition Countries:A Comparative Perspective; M.Facchinetti & F.Origo Unemployment Convergence in Transition; J.Tyrowicz & P.Wojcik Structural Change and Regional Labour Market Imbalances in Transition; F.E.Caroleo & F.Pastore Youth Unemployment in Transition Countries and Regions; C.Perugini & M.Signorelli Biografical Notes
