ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the principles for the solution of the general methodological problems. The investigation has clearly shown that privatization in general has been more favourable to Estonians than to Russians. In the privatization of the public sector, the investigation has shown that in the field of legislation two privatization programmes could be pointed out as being clearly in favour of the Estonians. The ‘political’ approach, as was the case with the two privatization programmes comprising land and restitution, also played a role in large-scale privatization. According to economic legislation there were in general no limitations for the Russians to establish or run a private enterprise. Income formation was liberalized at the transition to market economy and the development of the private sector was the most important driving force behind the income differences which appeared. The investigation of ethnic distribution of unemployment has demonstrated that there was higher unemployment among non-Estonians than among Estonians.
