An Ethnic Perspective on Economic Reform: The Case of Estonia

The emphasis of this book is on the consequences of privatization for the Russian population in Estonia. The comparisons between the Estonians and the Russians attempts to answer: who are the owners of private property; who is in control of management in the private enterprises; and how is income and unemployment distributed among the ethnic groups? The process of restoration of the Republic of Estonia, which began to move fast in the late 1980s and culminated with the declaration of national independence in 1991, is seen as an important political factor behind the economic reform in Estonia. Economic reform in Estonia during the transition period is generally considered to be among the most successful in Eastern Europe.