ABSTRACT
Hungary is a central European country with a population of over 10 million people and an area of 93,036km2. It is located in the Carpathian Basin, primarily on the alluvial plains of the Danube and Tisza. For over 40 years following World War II, Hungary had a centrally planned economy and a one-party political system strongly influenced by the Soviet Union. During this period, some heavy industry (for example, chemicals and metals) was developed in addition to the traditionally strong agricultural and manufacturing sectors. As a result of the political and economic reforms in the 1990s, a consolidated free-market democracy has been established. During the same period, laws and institutions in Hungary have been transformed to enable its accession to the European Union (EU) in May 2004.
