In The Economics of Order and Disorder (1992), Jacques Lesourne reflects on the influence of what he calls "exceptional personalities". According to his description, such personalities are characterised by a devotion to their own specific objectives, an outstanding ability to judge the resources...

The report summarises the results generated in empirical analysis within a larger EU's 5th framework programme for research and development on the determinants of productivity gaps between the current EU-15 and accession states in central and eastern Europe. The focus of research in this part of...