From Command to Market Economy in Hungary Under the Guidance of the IMF

"When Hungary decided to change its system from a command to a market economy, it was persuaded by friendly governments and international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund, that this could be best done under the guidance of the IMF, assisted by the World Bank. Inexperienced and trusting governments believed this and did as they were told. As a consequence, monetarism and neo-liberalism, by virtue of the Washington Consensus, were brought to Hungary and became the ruling ideologies of this transition economy that was totally unsuited to them. The consequences were disastrous. A difficult economic situation was transformed into a crisis situation: unprecedented depression with 18.2% decline of gdp; the loss of 3 years of output and 1.5 million jobs (29% of the total ); 24% decline in real incomes, 31% decline in the purchasing power of pensions; the pauperization of a large segment of the population and enrichment for a few; deterioration of external competitive position; emergence of a large public debt; further increase in the already large external debt; deterioration of vital government services: education, health care, family care, social services, basic research, culture, sport; galloping inflation, the eightfold increase of the price level... It is a sad story of errors, incompetence, arrogance, trust, servility, abuse and human suffering. It is told in simple language for those familiar with the basics of economics. It is hoped that those studying this unique and unprecedented phenomenon in economic history, the transformation of a command economy into a market economy, will benefit from it. And so, maybe, will the leaders and economists of those countries where the transformation is still underway. "