Chair: "INTEREST INTERMEDIATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION"

Institute of Social Sciences

 

 

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Research Project

"The Political Governance of Economic Transitions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Conditions of Institutional Learning"

Brief Description

German Version

The central aim of the project is to defeat the impossibility theorem of holistic reform. The success story of most transition countries gives empirical proof that the dilemma of simultaneity can be overcome. In order to identify the conditions under which holistic reforms are possible, different modes of governing the economic transition in Central and Eastern Europe are examined. A comparative analysis of thirteen post-socialist countries illustrates the impact of political institutions and specific constellations and choices of political actors on the outcome of economic reforms and the long-term economic development.

From the perspective of governance theory the relation between constraints, choices and time dependence is essential and leads to the following contrasting conditions and hypotheses that will be tested empirically:
(1) The imitation of reforms that have been  effectively implemented elsewhere will secure success. Alternatively: Since the impact and legitimacy of imported recipes is questionable, it turns out to be more efficient to design innovative and context-related measures.
(2) The executive powers have to be free of political, institutional and societal restrictions that might hamper a quick and complete implementation of reforms as well as impede on the required continuity of action. Alternatively: Reforms deriving from compromise on negotiated policies will gain more acceptance. Therefore, the existence of veto-players forces the government to be more responsive to social interests.
(3) At the beginning of transition, when structures are not yet institutionalised, the government has to make use of the so-called window of opportunity. Alternatively: The legacies of the past cannot be wiped out, so they have to be included into reform concepts and reforms should be modest and easily adjustable.
The main methods used are those of quantitative analysis, whereas the structure of the political system (governmental system and the mode of interest representation), political decisions and the time frame are independent variables. Aggregated macro-economic data (GDP, degree of privatisation, employment etc.) form the dependent variables. Additionally, several qualitative case studies will complete the empirical research. As an overall aim of research, systematic knowledge is sought about the conditions for success and failure in the beginning of transition as well as the decisions made in order to  readjust the policies initially chosen.



rev. 22.01.2002
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