In their book on income distribution in Central and Eastern Europe before the
fall of the Iron Curtain, Atkinson and Micklewright (1992) wrote:
It is everyone's hope that the present economic and political reforms in
Eastern Europe will lead to marked rises in the national incomes of these
countries, narrowing the gap between their standard of living and that found
in Western Europe. At the same time, it seems clear that the reforms will do
much more than change average income in the countries concerned - they
will also change its distribution.
(Atkinson and Micklewright, 1992, p.1)
They argued that at the time there was remarkably little interest in the distribution
of incomes and related issues in economies in transition. Their book
aimed to set a benchmark against which the impact of transition on inequality
and poverty could be judged.
However, when their book was published in 1992, there was still considerable
optimism that the duration of transition would be short, and that its economic
benefits would, relatively quickly, be enjoyed by the majority. Events since 1992
have suggested otherwise. Most transition countries have endured ten years of
economic contraction or stagnation and real incomes have declined. While some
countries have so far survived economic transition in reasonably good shape, for
others the consequences of economic transition have been disastrous.
The contributions to this volume comprise fifteen analyses of different aspects
of poverty and responses to poverty in countries undergoing economic transition
in Central Europe, the former Soviet Union and the Balkans. The authors of
these analyses come from a variety of backgrounds, including academia, the
public service and international organisations. Most chapters are authored or coauthored
by people who are from the countries described. In several chapters
these authors offer valuable insights into the measurement and experience of
poverty, and the responses to poverty in transition economies.