 In Brief
"This book is an insightful, comprehensive and easy-to-read account of Ukraine's difficult transition to a market economy." George Soros, international financier and philanthropist
A comprehensive and insightful analysis of Ukraine’s economic and political development since the achievement of its independence in 1991. The implicit message of this important book is that Ukraine is and, even more, should be an integral part of Europe. Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US national security adviser
Anders Åslund’s study of Ukraine’s amazing transformation blends impressive analytical skills, deep factual knowledge and masterly narrative. Åslund has done it again! Leszek Balcerowicz, former deputy prime minister and finance minister of Poland
|
|
How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy
by Anders Åslund
March 2009
• 345 pp. ISBN paper 978-0-88132-427-3 • $24.25
Buy This Book Online and Save 10
% Off List Price
Was $26.95, now $24.25
Discount applies to online purchases only.
One of Europe's old nations steeped in history, Ukraine is today an undisputed independent state. It is a democracy and has transformed into a market economy with predominant private ownership. Ukraine's postcommunist transition has been one of the most protracted and socially costly, but it has taken the country to a desirable destination.
Åslund's vivid account of Ukraine's journey begins with a brief background, where he discusses the implications of Ukraine's history, the awakening of society because of Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms, the early democratization, and the impact of the ill-fated Soviet economic reforms. He then turns to the reign of President Leonid Kravchuk from 1991 to 1994, the only salient achievement of which was nation-building, while the economy collapsed in the midst of hyperinflation. The first two years of Leonid Kuchma's presidency, from 1994 to 1996, were characterized by substantial achievements, notably financial stabilization and mass privatization. The period 1996–99 was a miserable period of policy stagnation, rent seeking, and continued economic decline. In 2000 hope returned to Ukraine. Viktor Yushchenko became prime minister and launched vigorous reforms to cleanse the economy from corruption, and economic growth returned. The ensuing period, 2001–04, amounted to a competitive oligarchy. It was quite pluralist, although repression increased. Economic growth was high.
The year 2004 witnessed the most joyful period in Ukraine, the Orange Revolution, which represented Ukraine's democratic breakthrough, with Yushchenko as its hero. The postrevolution period, however, has been characterized by great domestic political instability; a renewed, explicit Russian threat to Ukraine's sovereignty; and a severe financial crisis. The answers to these challenges lie in how soon the European Union fully recognizes Ukraine's long-expressed identity as a European state, how swiftly Ukraine improves its malfunctioning constitutional order, and how promptly it addresses corruption.
UK and European Residents: Purchase this book through
Eurospan for faster service.
Contents
Chapters are provided for preview only.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Map
Key Facts
Introduction [pdf]
1. Ukraine: Nation, History, and
Soviet Reforms [pdf]
2. Leonid Kravchuk:
Nation-Building and
Hyperinflation, 1991–94 [pdf]
3. Leonid Kuchma's Reforms,
1994–96 [pdf]
4. Kuchma's Stagnation, 1996–99 [pdf]
5. Individual Viktor Yushchenko's Reforms,
2000 [pdf]
6. Competitive Oligarchy with
High Growth, 2001–04 [pdf]
7. The Orange Revolution, 2004 [pdf]
8. Aftermath of the Orange
Revolution, 2005–08 [pdf]
9. Lessons from Ukraine's Transformation [pdf]
Bibliography
Brief Biographies of Leading Politicians and Businessmen
Chronology
Abbreviations
Index
RETRACTION
In March 2009, the Peterson Institute for International Economics published and distributed a book authored by Anders Åslund entitled How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy. The book included a series of statements regarding the Ukrainian-based investor Dmytro Firtash, the Hungarian-registered company Eural Trans Gas Kft. (ETG), and the Swiss-registered company RosUkrEnergo (RUE). After publication of the book, the Peterson Institute learned from Mr. Firtash and his counsel that they believe these statements were not supported by the sources identified by Mr. Åslund and that these statments were not true. Having fully reviewed the information provided by Mr. Firtash and his counsel, the Peterson Institute has concluded that it will not publish the specific statements made by Mr. Åslund in his book. Accordingly, the Peterson Institute has agreed to withdraw the original version of the book from publication and to order the destruction of all remaining copies of the original version. The Peterson Institute apologizes to Mr. Firtash for any inconvenience that he may have suffered.
|
