Political and academic discussion sees investment in education and vocational training as crucial for the success of transformation in CEE economies. The present volume contains papers presented to the 5th Berlin Social Conference which was convened to examine current developments in labour potential in CEE states, to take stock of the range of bilateral and multilateral assistance measures directed to this area and - of equal importance - to raise the central question of how intensification of human capital investment may best be used to consolidate a market economy.