The Iron Curtain lifted in 1989, and more than twenty nations emerged from the isolation that had largely hidden them from the rest of the world for more than four decades. In each of these former Soviet States, remnants of tradition and economic organization has prevented them from stepping out, beyond the curtain and onto the world stage. Regardless, some have been extremely successful. In Agriculture in Transition: Land Policies and Evolving Farm Structures in Post Soviet Countries authors Zvi Lerman, Csaba Csaki, and Gershon Feder study the land policies and farming infastructures of these newly emerging nations as components of institutional change in the rural sector - change from a centralized rural economy to a market-oriented economy. Their analysis of the policy, tradition, history, and social structure of these developing states pushes the discussion of economic transition beyond questions policy, planning, and implementation.

"The authors of Agriculture in Transition, Zvi Lerman, Csaba Csaki, and Gershon Feder—leading experts in the field of agricultural transition—offer a book, which is an enlightening synthesis of their professional work during the first decade of transition. The particular strength of this book lies in its balanced approach: whilst providing important policy-relevant answers, the book relies on combination of well researched factual detail based on reach data and field experience, with rigorous economic analysis. This makes Agriculture in Transition an excellent resource for everyone engaged in research, teaching, and policy advisory work on transition issues." - European Review of Agricultural Economics