The politics of economic adjustment in new democracies has received a lot of attention. However, none of the most recent examinations provide a thorough comparative analysis of Southern Europe. Ethier's book fills this gap. The book challenges many existing preconceptions about Southern Europe, while confirming and complementing the main assertions of comparable studies on Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.List of Tables and Figures - Acknowledgements - List of Acronyms - Introduction: Democracies and Successful Adjustment - PART 1: ECONOMIC POLICIES OF SOUTHERN EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES - The Economic Context of Democratic Transitions - Spain: an Early and Durable Process of Adjustment - Portugal: a Late but Accelerated Process of Adjustment - Greece: Timid and Fruitless Attempts of Adjustment - Comparative Results of Southern European Economic Policies - PART 2: THE DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESSFUL ADJUSTMENT: LESSONS FROM SOUTHERN EUROPE - The Government's Commitedness to Undertaking Reforms - The Government's Ability to Implement Reforms - Conclusion - References - IndexDiane Ethier