IMF Working Papers

Social Sector Reform in Transition Countries

By Christian Keller, Peter S. Heller

March 1, 2001

Download PDF

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Christian Keller, and Peter S. Heller Social Sector Reform in Transition Countries, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2001) accessed November 9, 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

During the transition process, many existing social sector institutions and policies were significantly eroded and their underlying character changed. As a result, they often do not redistribute to the poorest, nor generally serve the role of facilitating economic change. Social sector reforms have therefore become necessary for reasons of social welfare as well as economic growth. The analysis of eleven transition countries—comprising some of the most advanced as well as some of the poorest transition economies—shows that almost all countries have started to undertake reforms; however, their individual efforts vary. Reform does not only stand for cutting back, but also requires in some cases a building up and in others a redesign of social safety nets; it needs to address insurance issues, budgetary transfer programs, the performance of the health and education sector, as well as the labor market regime and the approach to tax administration.

Subject: Education, Expenditure, Health, Health care, Health care spending, Pension spending, Social assistance spending

Keywords: Demographics rank, Early retirement, Europe, Health care, Health care spending, Means testing, Monopoly power, Pension benefit, Public spending, Real value, Reform effort, Resource allocation, Retirement age, Social assistance spending, Social safety nets, Social sector reform, State tax inspectorate, Transition country, Transition economies, Unemployment insurance, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    27

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2001/035

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA0352001

  • ISBN:

    9781451845358

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941

You May Also Be Interested In...

Republic of Tajikistan: Technical Assistance Report-Public Investment Management Assessment with the Climate Module

November 8, 2024

Kenya: Seventh and Eighth Reviews Under the Extended Fund Facility and Extended Credit Facility Arrangements, Requests for Reduction of Access, Augmentation and Rephasing of Access Under the Arrangements, Modifications of Performance Criteria, Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Review Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Kenya

November 1, 2024

Public Investment Management Bottlenecks in Low-income Countries

November 1, 2024

Ukraine: Fifth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Waivers of Applicability of Performance Criteria, Modification of Performance Criterion, Rephasing of Access, and Financing Assurances Review-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Ukraine

October 18, 2024