The Belarusian case of transition: whither financial repression?

This article examines the financial development of Belarus, with special emphasis on 1996-2002, when the financial sector was restrained by pervasive government controls. Belarus is of particular interest as, despite no economic restructuring, annual growth has averaged 7% since 1997. It has been argued that monetary stimulation of investment through interest rate ceilings, directed credit and preferential loans revived growth. This article investigates whether a repressive financial policy adopted by the authorities in the late 1990s led to financial deepening and increased the share of savings allocated to investment.