<P> Inequality of opportunity was higher in the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia than in some other developed economies in Western Europe ( except France , where inequality of opportunity was relatively high ) . The highest inequality of opportunity was found in the Balkans and Central Asia . In terms of legal regulations and access to education and health services , inequality of opportunity related to gender was low in Europe and Central Asia but medium to high in respect of labour practices , employment and entrepreneurship and in access to finance . In Central Asia women also experienced significant lack of access to health services , as was the case in Arab countries . While many transition economies performed well with respect to primary and secondary education , and matched that available in many other developed economies , they were weaker when it came to training and tertiary education . </P>
what was the initial effect of the transition from command to market economies in eastern europe
Inequality of opportunity