This book addresses the pertinence of setting any specific end goals for economic transition, examines the point at which a transition can be considered to have completed, and provides a brief insight into how the end goal concepts were redefined over time. Key theoretical concepts and a summary on the state of research on political reform sequencing are presented along with some suggestions as to the practicality of opting for one mode of reform optimisation over another. A comparison of the transition processes in Russia and Poland is presented. Attention is devoted to the early period of transformation for both countries, with particular focus paid to the institutional settings in post-Soviet Russia. Some concluding remarks are drawn with regard to the factors that were instrumental in setting the pace for Poland's relatively quick and successful transition and the factors which caused Russia's transition process to be more protracted and complicated.