IMF Working Papers

Resource Allocation During the Transition to a Market Economy: Policy Implications of Supply Bottlenecks and Adjustment Costs

By Peter Isard, Joshua Aizenman

February 1, 1993

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Format: Chicago

Peter Isard, and Joshua Aizenman. Resource Allocation During the Transition to a Market Economy: Policy Implications of Supply Bottlenecks and Adjustment Costs, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 1993) accessed November 21, 2024
Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate

Summary

The paper discusses the case against a laissez faire approach to resource allocation and develops a model of supply bottlenecks. It argues that: (1) once budget constraints are hardened and credit markets begin to function appropriately, externalities associated with production bottlenecks and adjustment costs--other considerations aside--provide a case for subsidizing the costs of critical inputs for the state sector but not the new private sector; (2) the optimal subsidy declines as the private sector grows; and (3) the subsidy should be “financed” by taxing wage income in the state sector, which will strengthen incentives for workers to move.

Subject: Credit, Economic sectors, Employment, Industrial sector, Labor, Money, Public sector

Keywords: Credit, Eastern Europe, Employment, Enterprise reform, Industrial sector, Production bottleneck, Production environment, Production sector, Production stoppage, Public sector, Representative firm, Resource allocation, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    41

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 1993/006

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0061993

  • ISBN:

    9781451842241

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941