Author Description

The financial crisis of 2008/2009 has become the most serious challenge for Central and Eastern European countries, after they had completed the process of post-socialist transformation and became EU Members. The negative impacts of the recession on their important international partners multiplied their own tensions and imbalances which, in some cases, have led to a dramatic decline of the GDP, as well as serious cuts in public spending and personal incomes. The situation within the this group of countries is far from uniform. On the one hand, there is the example of Poland: the only country in Europe that has not gone through a recession. Then, on the other hand, there are the Baltic Republics that have lost 1/5 of their output. Also, the anti-crisis policies implemented in particular countries were strongly differentiated. Keeping in mind all these differences, one may say that these new Member States, on the whole, have confronted the challenges of the crisis bravely and effectively, due to the great adaptability and flexibility of both their political elites and societies. Thus, they may become an example for other EU Member States, which are currently struggling with economic difficulties and strong social protests against necessary but harsh economic measures. This book contains papers presented at a World Bank-sponsored seminar that was held in Warsaw in September 2009, when the crisis was still in full swing. The contributions reflect on the general dimensions of the crisis and also report on the particular situations in Central and Eastern European countries.