The early 1990s saw the rapid introduction of policies that were to reform the centrally planned economies in CEE and FSU. These policies were expected to lead to improvements in welfare. Studies on the transition projected initial falls in inequality and increases in poverty, which are confirmed here. This paper examines to what extent effects to overall welfare can be discerned from the data in a highly rural economy in a Republic in the FSU. The analysis uses Kyrgyz household survey data for 1993 and 1996.