After the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, Serbia did not progress from the transition beginning in the 1990s. Since the establishment of a new political regime in 2000, Serbia has developed an institutional framework for its banking sector and made progress with its transition. Since Serbia opened its banking sector to foreign countries, foreign banks have entered and contributed to its financial depth. However, they have also caused problems associated with the rapid expansion of consumer credit. On the other hand, they are improving customs associated with traditional insider lending as well as creating nationwide banks.

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This paper discusses the characteristics of the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) and how its microdata can be used. The RLMS is a unique nationally representative survey. It has the characteristics of the Family Budget Survey (FBS) and the Labor Force Survey (LFS) conducted by Rosstat. Additionally, the microdata of the RLMS is available; however, none is available for FBS and LFS. Moreover, the RLMS is designed to use its panel data. The points made above permit a microeconometric approach to the study of poverty in transitional Russia along with an analysis of the poverty dynamics of the country.

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The Contract Management Responsibility System, implemented by the central government of China, has resulted in significant improvements in technology, management, and factor input efficiency. With the powerful support of both government officials and enterprise managers, this new institutional arrangement among the government and state-owned enterprises has resulted in significant behavioral and attitudinal changes concerning work from those suited to a command economy to those befitting a market economy. Consequently, these new arrangements have served as an interim mechanism that has resulted in the smooth transition and institutional transfer to a market economy.

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