The International Monetary Fund is a remarkable survivor. It was created to carry out specific functions in a world that has since vanished. Its role in the world economy still remains central. But in recent times, it has faced considerable criticism, both in terms of its role and its...

The European Community (EC), in particular, took upon itself the role of the key external player in the political and economic restructuring programs in Eastern Europe. It successfully used a combination of aid packages and advice-giving, to frame its political and economic relations with the...

After the collapse of communism, it was acknowledged that mass privatization was a priority for Eastern Europe. This paper examines why it was necessary to accelerate the process, and the various methods that were used. It focuses on the Czech system of voucher-based privatization. In the Czech...