Institutional changes to chambers of industry and commerce in Hungary after the transition of 1989/1990

Abstract

The chapter explores the repeated institutional changes undergone by Hungarian chambers of commerce since 1989. It illustrates the different types of chamber (public law, private law) and sheds light on a radical change that took place in 1999. Throughout their history, Hungarian chambers of commerce have proved to be rather volatile institutions. The chapter adds to the literature on organised business, interest groups and business self-governance in the context of the politico-economic transformation of Central and Eastern European countries after 1989/90. Democratic backsliding has recently been observed in some countries in this area, including (among other issues) restricting the autonomous space of social associations. The chapter sketches the most prominent historical periods since the late nineteenth century and reveals the changes in membership regulation, funding, and service delivery. It highlights Hungarian chambers of commerce as a case of business self-governance that repeatedly became a cue ball of politics. Institutional change, therefore, is rather the result of external challengers and supporters from the political system than of strategic behaviour by internal change agents.