1945-64 Soviet Economic Policy Flashcards
Stalin plans
Industrial recovered quickly and urban living standards rose
1950s Soviet economy’s annual growth rate
7.1% opposed to 2.9% USA
Output of iron, steel, oil and electrical power…
Doubled
6 weaknesses
Failure to adopt new technology Stalin’s gigantumania (grandiose projects with little economic value) Grain production low Labour problems Shortage of livestock Productivity low
What did Stalin’s gigantomania lead to?
E.g. Volga-Don Canal
Construction of large govt buildings in Moscow with resources that could have been used to deal with severe housing shortage
What was grain production 1952?
Still below 1940 levels
Productivity
Lower than it had been 1913
Khrushchev- where was the priority?
Emphasis on light industry- wider availability of consumer goods and raised living standards.
Khrushchev- national income figure
Rose 100-158
Khrush- output of consumer goods figure
100-184
What showed that farmers were given priority
Incomes doubled 1952-58
How much did food production increase by 1953-58?
51%
What showed poor quality?
Shoe factory produced its target of shoes but all had the heel nailed to the toe
3 main problems
Poor labour productivity, inefficiency and waste
What did Virgin Lands lead to?
Successful cash crops being replaced, shortage of animal fodder leading to slaughter of 1 mil livestock
What was the ultimate sign of failure?
USSR had to import grain from North America and Australia
What was another problem in terms of reforms?
Stiff resistance from Party bureaucracy. Military-industrial complex too strong and watered down economic initiatives not focused on heavy
What was shelved bu conservative opponents in the Politburo?
1962 Liberman Plan- attempts to boost the economy by decentralising decision-making and intro of market-based prices
