Piecemeal Reforms in a Transitional Economy

Many transitional as well as developing economies have retained large elements of state ownership in some sectors. This paper analyzes the effects of piecemeal reforms in a small open economy in which the state enterprises’ employment and output decisions are the result of bargaining between the state treasury and enterprise “insiders.” Competition policy enhances welfare; privatization in a sector protected from foreign competition increases (lowers) welfare if state enterprises care more (less) for wage raises than for employment increases; and a small increase in the import quota has the usual welfare‐ambiguous effects. A free‐trade policy maximizes national welfare.