The main theme of this study is the political economy of policy reform in less developed countries and post-socialist countries. Given the complexity of economic development and transition, Joachim Ahrens views failures in policy reform, poor public sector management, rent-seeking, corruption,...

pt. 1. Two models of expansion without borders : the European Mediterraneans -- pt. 2. Early outlines of an Asian Mediterranean : the predominance of tributary trade -- pt. 3. The overlapping of Western and Asian trading networks -- pt. 4. The arena of re-globalisation : the second birth of the...