| Abstract: | The end of the Soviet Union and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States will definitely increase Western involvement in the former East Bloc countries. Recent emphasis has been placed on either developing Eastern markets or using inexpensive human capital to manufacture goods to be sold in the West. A third option does exist: the use of Eastern knowledge and technology in the West. Application of this knowledge and technology, currently not feasible in the former East Bloc because of a deficient infrastructure and lack of incentives, could be practical in the fertile environment of the West. Western firms are advised to catch up with their Japanese competitors in taking advantage of the low-risk opportunities that the break up of the Soviet Union has made available. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
