IPED Lecture: Legacy of U.S. Policy Response of 1989 in Central Europe

Join us for this lecture by Martin Miszerak, an investment banker and former adviser to the Polish government.

Shortly after taking office in January 1989, U.S. President George H. W. Bush faced the urgent task of designing a U.S. response to the brewing political and economic turmoil in Central Europe, as well as the diplomatic offensive of Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev. Following a comprehensive review, his administration designed an unprecedented and extremely innovative policy response for delivering U.S. economic assistance to Central Europe. The response relied on establishment of a private equity-type mechanism for not only delivering capital directly to Central European entrepreneurs but also for improving best practices, providing technical assistance, and fostering civil society. Miszerak will examine this history and how the legacy of the U.S. policy response of 1989 has made a lasting contribution to Central European business environments.