Abstract. Our purpose in this article is to find new ways to explain the delays with which Romania comes today to meet the civilized world, via the European Union. We focus on two aspects, less explored until now: 1. Romania did not have, as other countries from Central and Eastern Europe, theoretician and practicing economists, professionally well trained, to explain and support a rapid and vigorous transition. 2. The decision-makers today (as those from yesterday) are more interested in the field of ideology. Following this direction, we have tried to reveal here some new aspects which provide answers to the question addressed in the title.

Keywords: transition; theoretical hybrid; enclosure; mechanism; trap; market economy.