The Transition to a Modern Economy (P02461)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 11 ? Acronym : MSE-P-TME

The transition of the post-socialist states of East Central Europe and the former Soviet Union is often referred to as a transition from plan to market. However, it is relatively easy to eliminate central planning and move to something that can be described as a market economy, but very difficult to develop a truly modern economy, and it is doubtful whether any of the countries in question has fully succeeded in doing so. This course will look at why this is the case and what needs to be accomplished in order to successfully make that transition. We will begin with a brief historical overview of the transition from socialist central planning to market economics, looking at how the business environment has evolved and paying special attention to the important differences between three groups of countries: the new EU member states, the former Yugoslav republics of Southeastern Europe and the former Soviet states. We will then turn to an examination of what it means to develop a knowledge-based economy, deriving some lessons from the experiences of the Newly Industrialised Economies of East Asia, and subsequently looking at the development of the transition countries in the light of those experiences. We will conclude with a look at some of the most troublesome issues of corporate governance in Russia, and how they reduce the country’s ability to attract foreign capital and modernise its economy.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Business Studies, (Management School and Economics, Schedule H)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : Postgraduate

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
24/09/2007	09:00	11:00

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	09:00	10:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Lecture to be held in room 270 Old College, tutorials take place in room 270 Old College from 16:00 -17:00 and 17:00- 18:00 Mondays from week 2 onwards.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will learn to identify and analyse some of the most important business environment issues in real-world businesses in, or dealing with, transition economies. They will learn to recognise and deal with perspectives and concerns relating to some of the most important aspects of the globalisation of business in transition economies from two points of view: that of domestic actors and that of MNCs.