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Central Asia after Two Decades of Independence

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Economies in Transition

Part of the book series: Studies in Development Economics and Policy ((SDEP))

Abstract

A striking feature of the five Central Asian countries is that they followed divergent economic strategies after becoming independent in 1991. Despite similarities in culture, history, geography and economic structure, their transitions from Soviet central planning ranged from the most rapidly liberalizing (the Kyrgyz Republic) to the least-reforming (Turkmenistan) of all former Soviet republics. By the turn of the century, when the transition from central planning was essentially complete, the Central Asian countries had created vastly different economic systems. This chapter analyses the interaction of economic strategy, institutional change, political evolution and external influences, and their consequences for economic performance.

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Authors
  1. Richard Pomfret
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Berkeley, USA

    Gérard Roland (Professor of Economics and Political Science) (Professor of Economics and Political Science)

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© 2012 United Nations University

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Pomfret, R. (2012). Central Asia after Two Decades of Independence. In: Roland, G. (eds) Economies in Transition. Studies in Development Economics and Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230361836_16

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