Small Leap Forward : Emergence of Economic Elites

This article provides a glimpse into the formation of the post-state-socialist business elites in Hungary, Poland and Russia. We raise four interrelated questions. 1) What is the extent of the change on the top of business hierarchy? 2) What social groups predominate in the new business elite? 3) What individual characteristics are overrepresented in the new elite? 4) What type of individuals are losing and gaining ground among the elite because of the transformation?