The essays in this volume, first published in 2001, examine fiscal policy-making and providing for social welfare in post-socialist countries.

Preface János Kornai; Introduction Stephan Haggard and Robert R. Kaufman; Part I. Fiscal Policy and Institutions: 1. Politics of the labor market adjustment: the case of Russia Vladimir Gimpelson; 2. Creating effective tax administrations: the experience of Russia and Georgia Vito Tanzi; 3. Politics, institutions and macroeconomic adjustment: Hungarian fiscal policy-making in comparative perspective Stephan Haggard, Robert R. Kaufman and Matthew S. Shugart; 4. Brothers-in-arms or rivals in politics? Top politicians and top policy-makers in the Hungarian transformation Béla Greskovits; Part II. The Welfare State: 5. Lessons from Sweden for post-socialist countries Assar Lindbeck; 6. The borderline between the spheres of authority of the citizen and the state: recommendations for the Hungarian health reform János Kornai; 7. Security through diversity: conditions for successful reform of the pension system in Poland Jerzy Hausner; 8. The politics of pension and health care reforms in Hungary and Poland Joan M. Nelson.