Utilizing panel data for 14 East European transition economies, we discuss the link between product variety and growth. The empirical work relies upon some direct measures of product variety calculated from 5-digit OECD trade data. On balance, the results suggest that the growth patterns of the East European transition countries may be best represented by) model of outward orientation and integration with the world economy.JEL classifications: C33, F43, O31, O33, O52. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]