The Czech Republic, the Eastern European country that has pursued mass privatization most actively and credibly, has also done best in restructuring its industries and reorienting them toward world markets. Countries that pursued a gradualist approach - Hungary being the main example - have...

One of the most important policy questions in the transition economies is what governments can do to speed the restructuring of firms and thus hasten the transition to a mature market economy. The authors report on a study that provides some answers. Privatization encourages restructuring if it...