Chapter 3 seeks to answer the questions: “What is already known about the unanticipated consequences of purposeful actions, such as Public Sector Reforms?” and “What unanticipated consequences emerged during the transition process in Central Europe?” The chapter argues that reforms should be judged not only by their achievement of stated goals but also by their unanticipated consequences. This was particularly evident in the early transition and reforms of the 11 CEE countries. The reforms led to hardships for the population, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and minorities. In the countries that later became EU members, these hardships were only partially alleviated, notably through pension reforms, though poverty among minorities remained largely unaddressed. The chapter distinguishes between regime changes, institutional changes, and changes concerning individual public officials. It calls for more attention to be paid to the unanticipated consequences of reforms, as they influence not only the perceived success of reforms but also the direction and structure of subsequent reforms.