Institutional Barriers in the Transition to Market: Examining Performance and Divergence in Transition Economies

Examines the institutional developments in 28 transition economies over the past two decades and concludes that, contrary to popular belief, institutions were not neglected; while personalities mattered as much as policies for outcomes, getting the basic institutions right was the most important aspect of a successful transition.

Christopher A. Hartwell has advised governments on economic issues throughout transition economies for 17 years, living and working in the CIS and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. He holds a PhD from the Warsaw School of Economics and an MPP from Harvard, as well as an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.