Economic Reform, Growth and Inequality in Human Development in Transitional Economies

This paper examines the behaviour of the following indicators of development in and among Transitional Economies: real per capita income, the Human Development Index, the Gender-related Development Index and the Gender Empowerment Measure. The specific concern of the paper is the growth and inequality records of this group of countries. Growth rates and various inequality indices relating to the above indicators are reported for these countries and compared to those of other country groups for 1992-94. In contrast to experience elsewhere, the transitional economies record strongly negative growth and increasing inter-group inequality. Those with limited reform programs experience the poorest growth performances.