The New Democracies Barometer (NDB) surveys were conducted in the years 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1998. The aim of the NDB is to evaluate long-terms developments in economic, social and political attitudes. Differences in the attitudes in the new democracies on the one hand and Austria as “control-country” or “referenz-country” on the other hand are presented. Identifying trends in the public opinion within the particular countries and serving as a monitor for the public opinion in this geopolitical part of Europe are other goals. The insight which is particularly of interest in the NDB is the development of standard indicators to operationalise and quantify the social, economic and political change in the transition from planned economy people’s democracies to market-based democracies.