Environment In The Transition To A Market Economy Progress In Central And Eastern Europe And The New Independent States Russian Version

This book provides a coherent analysis of the environmental challenges and achievements in institutional strengthening and policy reform, environmental policy instruments, environmental financing, and environmental management in enterprises in transition countries.

Severe environmental problems were a key issue in the protests that marked the end of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This groundbreaking book provides new insights into the interaction between economic policy reforms, environmental protection efforts and environmental conditions in the region's subsequent transition to market-based economies and democratic societies over the past eight to ten years. The unique contribution of the book is its synthesis of a vast amount of information and cumulative experience together with detailed examples and case studies to provide a coherent analysis of the challenges and achievements in institutional strengthening and policy reform, environmental policy instruments, environmental financing, and environmental management in enterprises. It also reviews the development of domestic public participation and international co-operation for the safeguarding of the region's environment and discusses trends in industrial pollution and biodiversity protection. The book shows that economic reforms provided a crucial stimulus for environmental improvement, leading to reductions in high pollution levels. Moreover, several countries have strengthened their domestic environmental policies, institutions, and financing, resulting in further improvements. Nonetheless, many serious problems remain, and others have grown worse over the transition period: in many countries of the former Soviet Union in particular, economic crises and political stagnation have impeded environmental protection efforts. Continued partnerships between governments of the region, OECD donor countries, international financial institutions and organisations, environmental NGOs, businesses and trade unions, as well as public support for these, will be essential to reinforce the environmental improvements achieved thus far.

Severe environmental problems were a key issue in the protests that marked the end of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. This groundbreaking book provides new insights into the interaction between economic ...

..".transition has proved to be a much longer and more difficult process than most had anticipated, and progress has varied. By 1998 only one country, Poland (which embarked on economic reform before the rest of the region), had reestablished sustained economic growth and surpassed the pretransition level of real gross domestic product (GDP)." - From 'Economic Reform and Environmental Performance in Transition Economies' Most global economy and environmental watchers expect the transition to a market economy to yield environmental benefits. The changing incentives that a market economy introduces should foster more efficient production, better use of resources, and increased community input. The advanced reformers of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries proved this to be the case. They improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions intensity of pollutants. The slower-reforming countries of the Newly Independent States (NIS) also experienced lower pollution. However, that downturn coincided with the economic decline, which shut down many major polluters. This report reviews progress in environmental trends since transition began. It looks at air and water pollution and health indicators in the trends and in light of the environmental issues identified in the Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe. It continues and builds on the World Bank's work in analyzing the environmental effects of transition, restructuring, and privatization with a view to identifying priority areas for investment and policy initiatives. The report will interest environmental policy makers and practitioners.

A comprehensive introduction to the important economic, social and political processes and development issues in this increasingly popular area of study. Employing a groundbreaking thematic approach the book centres its discussion on the interrelation between contemporary development theories and continuing transition issues in this huge and complex region.

The wide variation in transition economies raises questions about differences in economic growth, the applicability of transition policies, and the advantages of economic reform. This report seeks to answer these questions.

This guide is an introduction to English language sources, in electronic and print form, dealing with business issues in Russia, the NIS and the Baltic States. It gives evaluative descriptions and costs of all listed sources, concentrating on recent sources. Sources of information on some of these countries can be difficult to locate, and the author gives guidance on how to go about finding them. Contents: Under each country, information sources are grouped in broad categories: Overview (sources designed to answer general, exploratory, country and regional questions, e.g. population, politics, how to do business etc); Current developments (e.g. recent changes in tax and other laws, trends in foreign direct investment, latest project tenders); Companies and contacts; Industries and services; Legislation; Organisations (a listing of agencies and bodies able to provide assistance, information and data to business people).

This guide is an introduction to English-language sources, in electronic and conventional print forms, dealing with Russia/NIS/Baltic states business issues. It provides evaluative descriptions and costs of all listed sources, and concentrates on recent sources. Sources in respect of some of these countries can be very difficult to locate, and the author provides guidance on how to go about finding them. Contents: Under each country, information sources are grouped in broad categories: Overview (sources designed to answer general, exploratory, country and regional questions; eg. population, politics, how to do business, etc); Current developments (eg. recent changes in tax and other laws, trends in foreign direct investment, latest project tenders); Companies and contacts; Industries and services; Legislation; Organisations (a listing of agencies able to provide assistance, information and business data); Index. The countries covered are: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Central Asia and Transcaucasia; Estonia; Georgia; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyztan; Latvia; Lithuania; Moldova; Russian Federation; Ukraine; Uzbekistan.