This book provides the economy of one of Europe's lesser-known countries. From dictatorship to democracy, Portugal's history over the past twenty years has been one of political upheaval and belated economic modernisation.

Now, with the country set to compete with its European rivals on equal terms, David Corkill places it within the context of the EEC and Southern Europe, detailing its economic development and exploring a number of interrelated themes: the legacy of dictatorship; the impact of the 1974 revolution; the economic crisis of the 1970s and early 1980s; and the economic boom following EEC accession.

Critically assessing the record of the Cavaco Silva governments since 1986, and incorporating all the latest research from both Portuguese and foreign sources, this book presents an overview of Portugal's recent development in a concise and highly accessible form.