This chapter discusses key macroeconomic trends in the Baltic states before and after their accession to the European Union in 2004. The countries have seen rapid economic growth, and the income gap with the EU countries in Western Europe has narrowed substantially. The convergence process has...

This chapter analyzes the sources of Poland's unprecedented economic performance after 1989, when Poland became Europe's and the world's growth champion. I argue that this growth miracle was driven by five fundamental factors, including Poland’s accession to the European Union. All five...

"This introductory chapter sets out the conceptual and empirical background for the book as well as the questions it addresses. The discussion suggests that despite many years of attempted reform and undoubted economic and social progress, Latin America has failed to close the income and...