The article's aim is to point that the implementation process of stabilization programs according to the spirit of the market liberalism in indebted developing countries confronted, somehow paradoxically, with a need for more effective and active state in a political and economic sense.

The structural concept of stabilization, driving the economic policy of Latin American countries in particular in the 50's and 60's, and the neostructural approach of the 80's did not held. In the 80's we noted an unquestionable predominance of the stabilization and adjustment policies with a liberal origin (like those of the IMF), which, apart from traditional, 'orthodox' measures of reducing total demand, included also measures to enhance the balance of payments through changes in price relations.

The article describes recommendations of structural and institutional changes that emerged (also in the IMF concept) when it became clear that the orthodox policy of reducing the increase of internal demand, resulting in reduced production and exports in severely indebted countries, was insufficient to resolve their payment problems. The article points out that these recommendations mean new tasks for the state apparatus and the need for its reform.

As reforms in the indebted countries enhanced the social pressure increased to request the government to cease or change the stabilization and adjustment policies as developed by the IMF. It was a challenge for the state's political potential in neutralizing 'awoken' groups of interest and organizing social support for the reforms. Continuation of the macroeconomic stabilization, liberalization and 'opening' of economies requires, among others, the support of measures that would smoothen the effects of income redistribution.

This review of experiences proves that in order to face the enormous challenge related to coping with excessive external debt and high inflation the indebted developing and transforming Eastern European countries will need, apart from a consistent and consequent macroeconomic policy, an enhanced capability of the state to act in the new context.