Privatisation in eastern Europe

The situation in the various countries of eastern Europe is investigated in individual articles. Privatisation is proving difficult for eastern European countries because a large number of their state-owned industries are not viable and contain outdated equipment. Nevertheless many western companies have acquired Eastern enterprises and made them profitable. There are also programmes to help with the process such as the UK's Know-how Fund. In Czechoslovakia, the government plans to issue cupons which entitle the bearer to acquire shares in 1,700 state-owned enterprises.