Abstract
This article identifies the main features of Poland's radical transition to capitalism-stabilization program, trade liberalization, and privatization reform. The ‘shock therapy’ adopted by Poland in 1991 is presented as the most effective approach, though not without political risk. In fact, the major threat to Poland's transition process is the emergence of well organized ‘interest groups’ putting increasing demand on the government to relax financial restrictions and re-open large-scale subsidization. These political pressures have already caused a slowdown in the privatization program, so that there is a possibility of the renewal of rapid inflation. Several methods for accelerated privatization, including the distribution of vouchers and setting up investment funds to manage portfolios of shares, are discussed in detail.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Sachs, J. and D. Lipton (1990), ‘Privatization in Eastern Europe: the case of Poland’,Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, No. 2.
Sachs, J. (1991), ‘Accelerating privatization in eastern Europe: the case of Poland’, prepared for the World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics (May). World Bank (1991),World Development Report.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sachs, J. The economic transformation of Eastern Europe: the case of Poland. Economics of Planning 25, 5–19 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366287
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00366287