Sustainable Development and Creative Destruction Economic Opportunities and Challenges in Eastern Europe

This book explores sustainable development from the perspective of the post-communist experience of Eastern Europe. Taking into account the specific characteristics of different countries within Eastern Europe, the contrast between economic theory and practice is highlighted. An understanding of the economic development of the Eastern Europe is presented to provide insights into the challenges, in particular the juxtaposition of new and old traditions, and opportunities for sustainable development in this area.

This book highlights how the implementation of sustainable development policies is dependent on culture, institutions, history, and geography. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in environmental economics and the economic development of Eastern Europe.

1. Capitalist culture of Eastern Europe.- 2. Money and the business cycle of the East.- 3. Geography matters. The past still "works" through institutions.- 4. Economic territorialisation in the East.- 5. Social harmony with variable geometry.- 6. Social tribute paid to the past.- 7. Nature free for export.- 8. Insidious nature-labour-capital complementarity.- 9. "Living tradition" vs. "dead tradition" in the language of Mill and Schumpeter.- 10. The specificity of the creative destruction in the East.

Ion Pohoata is a Professor of Economics at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. His research interests cover sustainable development, institutional economics and economic epistemology.

Andreea-Oana Iacobu?a-Mihai?a is a Professor of Economics at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania. Her research interests are related to economics of development, institutional economics, and well-being.