Professor Berend presents a comprehensive inside account of Hungary's
economic reforms since the 1950s. Working from Communist Party archives,
which have hitherto partially remained closed to scholars, Berend
situates the history of these economic reforms within their political
context, looking in particular at the role of the Soviet Union. He
examines the theoretical background to reform, the obstacles that arose
during implementation and the gradual realisation that minor reforms of
the old system could no longer work. The Hungarian Economic Reforms
1953-1988 comes at a time when many centrally planned economies are
examining their performance and structure and seeking suitable forms of
change. The Hungarian reforms have attracted those countries wishing to
rid themselves of their Stalinist command economies. Thus the book
indirectly sheds light upon Chinese economic reforms and on Gorbachev's
Soviet perestroika. It will be of interest to specialists and students
of East European studies, with special reference to the EMEA, planned
economies and economic reform.