Issue 4, 2003

This article offers a detailed presentation of the criticism by J.M. Ossipov on the discipline of economics, which, as he considers, is breaking off from its subject, and in connection with this, he advocates the return of the economic science back to its classical and philosophical foundations. A constructive criticism is made on the Ossipov's thesis, by giving proof of the necessity of synthesis between economics and political economy, resulting into theoretical economy. In it, in addition to the theory of utmost utility, the theory of utmost value must be elaborated, and each of the two must take an equivalent place in the economic science.

The paper examines, on a comparative plan, the market reforms in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and China, as well as the consequences of their introduction. It defends the thesis that the doctrine of neoliberalism, which is lying in the basis of the Washington Consensus and the activity of the IMF, is of a decisive importance for implementation of the "prorecessional" model of transition to market economy in the countries of CEE.
Analyzed are the contents of and the reasons for the emergence of the Washington Consensus and the accent is on the negative consequences of its implementation in the process of reforms in the countries of CEE, and more specially on the following aspects: confusing of aims with means in the model of the market reform, as well as in the methodologies of evaluation of the reached results; slowing down of the institutional reform; generating negative shocks on internal and external demand; and creating conditions of spreading poverty, corruption and crime.

The genesis and the basic factors in the development of the Bulgarian entrepreneurship are investigated. Evaluations are drawn of its condition and the overall economic development, and concrete specifics and reasons are sorted out. Some comparative evaluations and generalizations are advanced from the viewpoint of the economic freedom, the scale of state interference, the influence of the European culture and the interrelations "Capital - Labor". The successful future of the enterprising idea passes through the complicated process of confirmation and general acceptance of such social norms and rules as economizing time, aptitude to saving, fulfillment of contract, observing good discipline, payment of taxes etc, accepted by all participants in the market process.

This paper summarizes the instrumentation system of confirmed and widely used methods in the evaluation of expenses on and benefits from the expansion of the EU to the East. Aspects of general equilibrium models are presented, of macroeconomic models (regressional), of sectorial models, of gravitation models and the methodology of optimal currency zone.