Ideological Features Yet to be Overcome in Soviet-Type Economies

Abstract

The question of reform in Hungary has been debated for over three decades now. This debate necessarily, and by conscious self-constraint, has concentrated on the reform of the economic mechanism and has resulted in some established positive changes in the Hungarian economy. Yet we cannot be satisfied with the pace of progress in finding solutions to specific domestic problems. Recently those who closely follow the hesitant development of the economic reform came to the conclusion that changes in the economic sphere alone were not sufficient for a major leap forward. Public attitudes, the mechanism and criteria of political decision-making, the functioning of mass media, formal and informal rules of public life must necessarily change as well.