Economic Transformation in East Central and Southeastern Europe - JTM015

• Title: Economic Transformation in East Central and Southeastern Europe
• Guaranteed by: Department of Russian and East European Studies (23-KRVS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2021
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 6
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: 22 / unknown (24)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan
• Guarantor: Mgr. Petr Jeřábek
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Petr Jeřábek
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

English

The course deals with issues of economic transformation in Central and South East European countries after the end of the communist regimes. It builds on an overview of historical and political context, and by case studies it details key problems of economic development of the CSEE countries in the 1990s. It summarizes the commonalities and specifics of different countries in the region. Attention is paid to current economic situation of the countries in focus as well.

Last update: Jeřábek Petr, Mgr. (16.09.2025)

Czech

Kurz se zabývá otázkami ekonomické transformace ve střední a jihovýchodní Evropě po pádu komunistických režimů. Staví na přehledu historického a politického kontextu a na základě případových studií podrobně rozebírá klíčové problémy ekonomického rozvoje zemí střední a jihovýchodní Evropy v 90. letech 20. století. Shrnuje společné rysy a specifika různých zemí v regionu. Pozornost je věnována i současné ekonomické situaci sledovaných zemí.

Last update: Jeřábek Petr, Mgr. (16.09.2025)

Aim of the course

The aim of the course is to explain and discuss the topics and methods of economic transformation in East Central and Southeastern Europe. At the end, students should be able to understand general aspects of economic transformation of the selected countries. 

Last update: Lochmanová Sára, Mgr. (17.09.2025)

Course completion requirements

Grading is based on the Dean's Measure no. 20/2019: https://fsv.cuni.cz/deans-measure-no-20/2019

• 91% and more   => A
• 81-90%             => B
• 71-80%             => C
• 61-70%             => D
• 51-60%             => E
• 0-50%               => F

More in SMĚRNICE S_SO_002: Organizace zkouškových termínů, kontrol studia a užívání klasifikace A–F na FSV UK.

Last update: Lochmanová Sára, Mgr. (18.09.2025)

Literature

 

POZNÁMKA:Všechna dostupná literatura v sylabu slouží pouze ke studijním účelům v tomto kurzu. Je chráněna autorským právem a nesmí být tak dále šířena.

Class readings:

will be specified on the first lesson

 

Course book:

IMF, 25 Years of Transition Post-Communist Europe and the IMF. Regional  Economic Issues, Special Report, Washington DC 2014       

             

Recommended general readings:

Åslund, A. The Transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia. Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Bohle, D. and B. Greskovits. Capitalist Diversity on Europe´s Periphery. Cornell University Press, 2011. 

Gros, D. and A. Steinherr. Economic Transition in Central and Eastern Europe: Planting the Seeds. Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Lane, D. and M. Myant (ed.) Varieties of Capitalism in Post-Communist Countries. Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Myant, M. and J. Drahokoupil. Transition Economies: Political Economy in Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Wiley, 2011.

Piketty, T. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press, 2013.

Rose, R. Understanding Post-Communist Transformation: A bottom up approach. Routledge, 2009. (political and economic transformation)

Sobják, Anita. From the Periphery to the Core? Central Europe and the Economic Crisis. The Polish Institute of International Studies, No.7 (55), April, p. 10, Warsaw 2013

Last update: Lochmanová Sára, Mgr. (17.09.2025)

Teaching methods

Teaching methods are the combination of lectures and seminars. Based on the lectures, students should receive general information about history of central-planned economies in Central Eastern and Southeastern Europe and then about processes of transformations. Seminars are focused on students presentations and reading of the texts which are followed discussed to help students with better understanding of the subject. 

 

Use of generative AI tools:

The use and citation of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or MS Copilot) in seminar papers and other coursework must comply with the decrees of the IMS Director No. 7/2023 and 9/2023.

Generative AI tools may be used unless explicitly prohibited by the instructor. However, they may not be used to generate substantial sections of the text or replace the student’s own intellectual contribution. The student remains fully responsible for any content generated with assistance of AI tools.

Presenting AI-generated content, whether verbatim, rephrased, or only slightly modified, as one's own work constitutes plagiarism.

Every submitted paper must include a transparent statement specifying which generative AI tools were used, in which stage of the work they were employed, and how they were used, or confirming that no generative AI tools were used. If this statement is missing or incomplete, the instructor is not permitted to accept the paper for evaluation.

Unless the instructor explicitly prohibits the use of generative AI tools, the decision to use or not to use them rests fully with the student. The student has the right to request that the instructor does not use AI assistance for evaluating their work.

 

Last update: Lochmanová Sára, Mgr. (07.10.2025)

Requirements to the exam

* Assessment:
50 % - presentation/paper
10 % - activity in the class (class reading)
40 % - written examination (online test)

 

* Final mark:
100 - 91 % - excellent (A) 
90 - 81 % - very good (B)
80 - 71 % - good (C) 
70 - 61 % - sufficient (D)
60 - 51 % - sufficient with deficiency (E) 
less than 50 % - failed (F)

 

Due to the Covid-19 disease and on-line teaching, the e-exam will be carried out via Moodle or Turnitin. Students will answer open questions. 

Last update: Jeřábek Petr, Mgr. (26.09.2023)

Syllabus

For updated syllabus see attachments.

*  Topics covered by the course (2025/2026)

1. Commonalities and specifics of Central and South East European economies in the period until the end of WWII
2. Basic features of centrally planned economies and socialist integration 
3. Economic transformation process: the Washington consensus
4. Case studies: specifics of economic transformation of individual countries
5. Economic integration in the region and its relevance to the EU accession process
6. Current issues in economic development of Central and South East European countries

Last update: Jeřábek Petr, Mgr. (16.09.2025)