Abstract (eng)
This thesis reviews and evaluates the development of privatization within the CEE region during the last 25 years. The author wishes to reveal the critical success factors that shaped the performance of privatization, by describing the motives and determinants that encouraged the process and by underlining the unique contextual characteristics that varied across the major transition economies (e.g. Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania), Accordingly, the legislative and political frameworks, early acceptance of FDI inflows, privatization techniques, and the competitive strength, are several aspects that influenced the early implementation and success of a powerful private sector. In order to confer a better understanding with respect to the privatization model advanced by the Romanian governments, the author investigates the impact of the Austrian FDI on the national economy, by examining two representative case studies. Firstly, the ownership transfer of the Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR) to ERSTE Group. Secondly, the acquisition of the oil company PETROM by OMV AG. In this regard, the study enhances the insights and findings of other relevant works that focused on the privatization process in CEE and especially in Romania.