Economic Transformation in Eastern Europe and the Distribution of Income

This book, first published in 1992, examines the distribution of income under Communism in Eastern Europe, and its implications for economic transformation.

Anthony Barnes Atkinson (Author), John Micklewright (Author)

9780521438827, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 October 1992

466 pages, 48 b/w illus. 1 map
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.64 kg

'… here we have all that is best in empirical economics and applied statistics … described with great authority and clarity. All in all this is an excellent book in every regard.' Income and Wealth

Who gains and who loses from economic transformation in Eastern Europe is a key question, but one which is too rarely discussed. This book, first published in 1992, examines the evidence about distribution of income under Communism in Eastern Europe. Contrary to popular impressions, a great deal of information exists about distribution of income and household earnings in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland. With glasnost much material previously kept secret in the USSR has been made available. The book contains extensive statistical evidence that had not previously been assembled on a comparative basis, and brings the story right up to the end of Communism. The findings bring out the differences in experience between countries under Communism: between Central Europe and the former Union; between Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland; and between the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.

List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction and summary
2. Why study the distribution pre-1990?
3. Data: availability, quality and comparability
4. The distribution of earnings
5. The distribution of household incomes
6. Interpreting income data
7. Measuring poverty
8. Poverty and the safety net
Sources and methods
List of tables in statistical appendix
Statistical appendix
Bibliography
Name index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Economic systems & structures [KCS]