This book investigates the causes and consequences of the significant upsurge in mortality rates observed in transitional economies during periods of systemic economic change. The authors, Giovanni Andrea Cornia and Renato Paniccià, assemble a multidisciplinary team of demographers, economists, and health experts to evaluate the intersection of economic policy and public health outcomes. By synthesizing data across various transitional states, the text provides a framework for understanding how rapid structural shifts influence population health and mortality trends.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the demographic impacts of economic transition in post-socialist states. Scholars frequently cite the book for its rigorous multidisciplinary approach to complex public health data.