Simon Johnson

In this sample of 49 Latin America, OECD, and transition economies, it is the ineffective and discretionary administration of tax and regulatory regimes--not higher tax rates alone--as well as corruption, that increases the size of the unofficial economy. And countries with a large unofficial economy tend to grow more slowly.

Starting Over in Eastern Europe offers a balanced appraisal of the "shock therapy" policies instituted in Poland in 1990 to achieve macroeconomic stability and trade liberalization. Through extensive field research, the book illustrates the tremendous energy and potential of a rising entrepreneurial class that includes manufacturers, service providers, retailers, and wholesalers.