The New York futures market does not provide an appropriate mechanisms [sic] for hedging the price risk in Egyptian cotton under present procedures for determining prices. Establishing a domestic spot market (while privatizing the industry), followed by a forward market, may provide the best interim mechanism.

Studies of Economies in Transformation No. 19. Provides comprehensive data for evaluating market reforms in the states of the former Soviet Union. This is the fourth annual compilation of statistical data on the rapidly evolving economies of the former Soviet Union (FSU). It is an indispensable reference, providing even more comprehensive data than the 1994 handbook for evaluating market reforms in the FSU. It converts economic data used by socialist systems to the market-based system of national accounts and incorporates new national currencies in the data. The volume contains both English and Russian versions of the text. Decisionmakers have easy access to key statistics on the 15 independent states through the handbook's comparative tables, which provide cross-country data arranged by subject. Topics include production rates, human resources, and external trade. Country tables give detailed information on essential statistical indicators such as public finance, monetary statistics, employment, and labor. Technical notes and a detailed annex give helpful background information on the statistics. A complete bibliography is provided.

New York cotton futures and options contracts provide an effective way to reduce cotton price volatility, despite relatively high basis risk.