Transition Economies

Reviews / Votes

"A new book on transition economies, with a strong historical perspective, knowledge of the area and languages, lots of empirics and discussion of new issues like migration and remittances." - Branko Milanovic, Visiting Presidential Professor, Graduate Center - CUNY; Former Lead Economist, World Bank Research Department.

'This comprehensive analysis of transition processes is a welcome addition to the transition literature. It is rich in historical analysis and presents a sobering and factually rich presentation of the diverse evolutions in Central and Eastern Europe. A must-read for all those interested in transition and countries of the region.' - Gerard Roland, E. Morris Cox Professor of Economics, University of California, Berkeley, USA

'Professor Gevorkyan's book is a must-read for those interested in the cataclysmic changes that occurred in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union, and that are still playing out towards as yet unknown destinations. The author has produced a thorough and insightful, yet questioning, account of the transition economies of that vast region and diverse collection of countries. As an economist, he has analyzed that aspect well and thoroughly, but has gone far beyond that rather simplistic view of economic transition to analyze the far more complex topic of broad societal transformation. He has done so with attention to the historical, social, political and institutional changes that occurred during and as result of the transition. Another important contribution is the author's insistence on viewing the transition and transformation of the individual countries involved, as he has done in his analyses, rather than considering the region as a single entity as might have been implied from the book's title. Professor Gevorkyan has provided a highly analytical and nuanced view of an enormously important topic, but with a framework and writing style that produce a comfortable, as well as valuable, reading experience.' - Daniel J. McCarthy, Emeritus University Distinguished Professor and McKim-D'Amore Distinguished Professor of Global Management & Innovation, D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University, USA

'In his enlightening book, Aleksandr V. Gevorkyan systematically unpacks the nuanced complexities of economic history and social dynamics of the post-socialist Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union. This creatively novel exploration will be an interesting and engaging must-read!' - Otaviano Canuto, World Bank Group, Executive Director for Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Philippines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago

'This excellent book is an important tool for graduate students, scholars and policy makers.' - Andrea Bernardi, Senior Lecturer in Employment and Organization Studies at Oxford Brookes University in the UK

'Transition Economies [...] summarises the major economic and many social indicators of the changes which have taken place in the 29 European and Central Asian countries of what was previously called the Soviet bloc [...] Its strength lies in summarising an enormous amount of statistical information concerning post-socialist developments in this area [...] Transition Economies will prove a useful source for many students of transformation seeking detailed knowledge of the recent economic history of the European post-socialist states.' - David Lane, Emeritus Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, UK, in LSE Review of Books

"This monograph is an invaluable reference book for classrooms to understand the rocky paths for transition in post-Communist states in this mega-region, and a great general interest resource on economic history, international economics, or comparative economic systems."- Hovhannes Nikoghosyan is an Adjunct Lecturer, Political Science and International Affairs program at American University of Armenia

"I hope Gevorkyan's book will re-ignite further research into the topic [...] I highly recommend the book and applaud the method, analysis and conclusions. A must-read for students and scholars of international development." - John Marangos in Eurasian Geography and Economics.

"This book is much needed on the bookshelves of those who want to understand how historical experiences can inform state-market relationships and dynamics of capital accumulation at the start, during and at the end of the Former Soviet Union." - Lorena Lombardozzi in Review of Radical Political Economics

"This fascinating account of the dramatic and complex transformation of 29 countries is essential reading not just for students of development and economics-for which it would be a great classroom resource-but also for seasoned economists and development professionals. Its lessons go beyond those of the countries and period in question and remind us of the importance of paying attention to institutional details, cultural and historical contexts, and the general complexity of human systems-social, economic and political." - Jacob Assa, Policy Specialist, UNDP, Human Development Report Office, USA, in Europe-Asia Studies, 72:7, 1265-1266.

"Aleksandr Gevorkyan's study is an absorbing exploration of the economic history of the former socialist bloc, of what went wrong, of what went right, and of what could have been. ... Gevorkyan is consistently effective in dismantling the optimistic myths surrounding the rapid liberalization of the economies of the former USSR and Eastern Europe." - Artyom H. Tonoyan (University of Minnesota), Review of Political Economy

"Professor Gevorkyan's book represents a successful attempt to shed light on one of the greatest unknowns of development economics: the transformation that the countries which used to be under the direct sphere of influence of the Soviet Union experienced when they faced the traumatic transition from planned to market economies. [...] This book is equally relevant for researchers in the field, providing in-depth and critical analysis, and for the curious reader with a reasonable degree of technical knowledge, since every issue is presented in a very accessible manner. At the same time, the book contributes to the filling of the knowledge gap, by offering a well-reasoned heterodox interpretation of Eastern European and former Soviet Union countries' transition processes. [...] This book will certainly prove to be very useful for several courses on the region for years to come." - Gonzalo Luis Fernandez in Review of Keynesian Economics