1. Introduction : Globalization, transition and economic diversification / Rob Vos and Malinka Koparanova -- 2. Institutions and diversification of the economies in transition / Paul G. Hare -- 3. The role of the business environment in explaining the performance of countries and firms / Simon Commander and Katrin Tinn -- 4. International trade and economic diversification : Patterns and policies in the transition economies / Michael A. Landesmann -- 5. Explaining patterns of trade between the CIS and the EU and China / Malinka Koparanova and Hung-Yi Li -- 6. Introduction : Patterns of foreign direct investment in economies in transition / Kálmán Kalotay -- 7. Foreign direct investment in transition economies: Strengthening the gains from integration / Saul Estrin and Klaus E. Meyer -- 8. Remittances and development in transition economies / Robert C. Shelburne and José Palacín -- 9. Agricultural Reforms, Growth and Poverty Reduction in Central Asia / Max Spoort.

This volume brings together new contributions from renowned academic scholars, from experts on economies in transition and from the United Nations, the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as well as other international agencies. It aims to answer fundamental questions and spell out policy options to address the challenges for economies in transition. The volume includes comparative studies focusing on all transition economies, including Central and Eastern Europe, as well as regions such as Western Balkans and the Commonwealth of Independent States.