作者乃世界經濟學界大師級人物，有關社會主義經濟的幾部經典之作——《短缺經濟學》、《通嚮自由經濟之路》均是其重量級著作。這部經濟學著作是科爾奈1995年以前研究成果的集大成之作，作者將傳統社會主義（即文中的“經典社會主義”）作為自己分析和研究的對象，對其“所有主要領域：政治架構、意識形態、嚴格意義上的經濟和對經濟的監管、體製內部的信息流動、典型的社會關係以及由政治—社會—經濟環境塑造的典型行為特徵”進行瞭鞭闢入裏的分析和解讀，不失為中國人探索建設中國特色的社會主義道路的必備參考書。

To understand the dramatic collapse of the socialist order and the current turmoil in the formerly communist world, this comprehensive work examines the most important common properties of all socialist societies. JNBnos Kornai brings a life-long study of the problems of the socialist system to his explanation of why inherent attributes of socialism inevitably produced in-efficiency. In his past work he has focused on the economic sphere, maintaining consistently that the weak economic performance of socialist countries resulted from the system itself, not from the personalities of top leaders or mistakes made by leading organizations and planners.This book synthesizes themes from his earlier investigations, while broadening the discussion to include the role of the political power structure and of communist ideology. Kornai distinguishes between two types, or historical phases, of socialism. The 'classical socialism' of Stalin, Mao, and their followers is totalitarian and brutally repressive, but its components fit together and make up a coherent edifice. Associated with names like Tito, KNBdar, Deng-Xiaoping, and Gorbachev, 'reform socialism' relaxes repression, but brings about a sharpening of inner contradictions and the eventual dissolution of the system.Kornai examines the classical system in the first half of the book, and moves on to explore the complex process of reform in the second half. "The Socialist System" is addressed to economists in the first place, but also to political scientists, sociologists, and historians. In addition, it will appeal to policymakers, business analysts, and government officials who need to understand either formerly or presently communist countries.