The World Bank collects data from each of its member countries to support the economic analyses it needs for its lending operations. The make‐up of the statistics in this volume, the fifth edition, was first based on data collected by the statistical offices of the states of the former Soviet Republic. Since 1993 the tables have been prepared by the national statistical offices of the 15 newly independent countries using the same standard set of tables. Inevitably there are inconsistencies and deviations from the intended scope and it will take time for a consistent pattern to develop. Such deviations are noted. Given the recent disturbed history of this area of the world, it is a marvel that such wide‐ranging and detailed statistics are compiled at all. With 560 large format pages almost all filled with statistical tables, this publication is a fine tribute to the work of the staff of the World Bank.
After a few introductory comparative tables, each of the 15 countries, from Armenia and Azerbaijan to the Ukraine and Uzbekistan is treated individually. Within each there is a standard arrangement of eight subdivisions. These eight broad subject areas are: population, labour force and employment; national accounts; balance of trade and foreign trade; government finance; agriculture; industry and energy; price indices and wages; and household incomes and expenditure. Each of these is in turn subdivided. All of the 15 × 28 tables have the years 1990 to 1996 separately itemized (though many of the earlier yearly columns are void). The Introduction makes some general interpretative points, for example on the “hidden” economy, while some technical notes conclude the volume to explain points of methodology and interpretation. The book has English and Russian script, though since most of the content is statistical, this presents no problem. Despite the large format and 560 pages, the book is surprisingly light and easy to handle.
Naturally a work of such complexity will take some getting used to, but the arrangement is clear and regular users of World Bank and other statistical sources should have little difficulty. If you want to know how much prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits, vinegar, tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes were imported by the Kyrgyz Republic; or how many pigs, sheep and goats were produced in the Russian Federation; or the income from scholarships in Moldova; then this is your book!
