Potential Reserve Army and Diverging Paths of Transition in (Former) Socialist Economies

• Autores: Zhun Xu
• Localización: Science and society, ISSN 0036-8237, Vol. 87, Nº. 1, 2023, págs. 76-94
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The causes of diverging transition paths of (former) socialist economies are best understood through a framework centered on the differences in the composition of their working classes; in particular, the sizes of their respective potential reserve armies. An examination of the historical process of market reforms in socialist economies suggests that a sizable potential reserve army could give rise to a gradual approach to market transition. In contrast, a negligible potential reserve army could lead to either a shock therapy or a long impasse.