Financial Markets Of Eastern Europe And The Former Soviet Union

The banking systems of eastern Europe and the states of the former Soviet Union have undergone dramatic change in recent years. This is the first book to provide a practical overview of the banking systems in the region. It describes the changes that have occurred and the differences that still remain. The author provides a full account of the various financial centres and the diversity of products that are available, including currencies, bonds, stocks, futures, coupons and certificates. The book covers financial internediaries, savings protection and corporate governance and concludes with a look at potential future developments. It will be essential reading for corporates, bankers, fund managers, investors and advisers involved in the region.

Designed as a reader for courses in comparative economics, East European economics and politics, and international relations and business; includes 37 recent and "classic" articles in 10 parts. Includes bibliographical references. Part I. The failure of central planning -- Part II. The lure of the market -- Part III. The legal system -- Part IV. The financial system -- Part V. Market failure -- Part VI. The macroeconomy -- Part VII. Privatization -- Part VIII. International economic issues -- Part IX. The politics of economic reform -- Part X. The strategy of reform.

Foreign direct investment and, more recently, short-term debt and portfolio flows have become important parts of private capital flows to Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Private flows have increased in response to reform efforts, the buildup of reserves, and prospective membership in the European Union. Private capital flows to Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have taken off in recent years. Foreign direct investment was the most important such flow from 1991-97, but since 1993 short-term debt and portfolio flows have also been important. The increase in these potentially more volatile short-term flows raises some questions about sustainability and vulnerability. Perhaps more than in other developing countries, reform efforts appear to be the most important determinant of private flows to the region. Private flows also have responded positively to the buildup of reserves (a proxy for improvements in perceived creditworthiness) and to prospective membership in the European Union (reflecting greater economic integration with the West and a greater commitment to reform). Official flows have been associated with the financing of fiscal deficits and appear to have led, rather than followed, countries' reform efforts. This paper - a joint product of the Economic Policy Division, Poverty Reducation and Economic Management Network; and the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region - was prepared for the National Bureau for Economic Research study, Capital Flows to Emerging Markets, organized by Sebastian Edwards. The authors may be contacted at [email protected] or [email protected].

This interdisciplinary study offers a comprehensive analysis of the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Providing full historical context and drawing on a wide range of literature, this book explores the continuous economic and social transformation of the post-socialist world. While the future is yet to be determined, understanding the present phase of transformation is critical. The book’s core exploration evolves along three pivots of competitive economic structure, institutional change, and social welfare. The main elements include analysis of the emergence of the socialist economic model; its adaptations through the twentieth century; discussion of the 1990s market transition reforms; post-2008 crisis development; and the social and economic diversity in the region today. With an appreciation for country specifics, the book also considers the urgent problems of social policy, poverty, income inequality, and labor migration. Transition Economies will aid students, researchers and policy makers working on the problems of comparative economics, economic development, economic history, economic systems transition, international political economy, as well as specialists in post-Soviet and Central and Eastern European regional studies.

The need for financial sector reform in the formerly socialist economies was recognized from the start, but views about how and when to proceed diverged. Too often, complex western models have been prescribed prematurely. Banking reform has progressed further in Russia than elsewhere, which supports the view that market factors should be allowed to do more in the transition than they have.