WORKING PAPER 06-5

The Eurasian Growth Paradox

by Anders Aslund, Peterson Institute for International Economics
and Nazgul Jenish, University of Maryland

June 2006

Anders ÅslundIn the first decade of postcommunist transition, Central Europe took the lead, and analysts showed that vigorous economic growth followed from radical, comprehensive market reform. Since 2000, however, the transition countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have grown 4 percentage points faster each year than the Central European countries. Reducing government spending was most effective in stimulating this growth, though the oil export boom was also a significant factor. The striking turnaround in growth rates can be traced to the Russian financial crash of August 1998, after which many CIS countries likewise experienced crises, which forced them to drastically reduce their budget deficits.

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RELATED LINKS

Policy Brief 11-9: Lessons from the East European Financial Crisis, 2008-10 June 2011

Paper: Proposals for Ukraine: 2010—Time For Reforms February 2010



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