Liberal and Anti-Liberal Tendencies in the Economic Policy of East-Central European Countries

Free market ensures economic freedom. Its implications are, however, much broader than only the
economic ones. Political freedom means lack of coercion in mutual relations between people. The
basic threat here lies in the possibility of applying the coercion by some dictator, monarch, by some
oligarchy or by temporary majority. Preserving freedom needs, to such extent to which that is
possible, eliminating the concentration of power and dispersing it with the aid of some controlling and
balancing systems. Taking away the control over the organisation of economic activities from the
political power eliminates the source of coercion. The economic strength becomes a form of control
over the political power rather than being the element supporting it. The main aim of this work is the
presentation of liberal and anti-liberal tendencies in the economic policy of East-Central European
Countries.