“Drawing on his deep knowledge of the post-communist experience, Tim Frye demonstrates that history can overwhelm attempts to get the institutions right. Conceptually bold and meticulously researched, Building States and Markets after Communism should be read by anybody who wants to understand the political economy of economic reform.” – Scott Gehlbach, University of Wisconsin, Madison
Introduction; 1. The political logic of economic and institutional reform; 2. Political polarization and economic inequality; 3. The pace and consistency of reform; 4. Political polarization and economic growth; 5. Polarization and policy instability: the view from the firm; 6. Nationalism and endogenous polarization; 7. Russia: polarization, autocracy and inconsistent reform; 8. Bulgaria: polarization, democracy and inconsistent reform; 9. Poland: robust democracy and rapid reform; 10. Uzbekistan: autocracy and inconsistent gradualism; 11. Conclusion.