24.2 Economic condition of the Soviet Union

Question 1

What was Stalin’s influence in the late Russian economy?

+ What was a negative of Stalinist industry?

Answer 1

Stalin had created a broad industrial base; despite the war much had been done to rebuild that economy by 1953

+ it had been wasteful of resources

Question 2

What were Stalin’s successors keen in regard to the economic condition of Russia?

+ What did a change in the fundamental elements of Russia’s economy do?

Answer 2

• Stalin’s successors like Khrushchev were in favour for moving resources away from heavy industry and more towards consumer goods and housing
• There was also a focus on new technology like nuclear weaponry perpetuating Russia’s military power

+ Changing fundamental elements of Russia’s centralised system however came with problems like bureaucracy

Question 3

What was Khrushchev’s economic influence?

+ Was this successful overall?

Answer 3

• After 1953, productivity was encouraged without relying on increases in labour or the exploitation of resources

Khrushchev tried to decentralise institutions to incentivise productivity

+ Plans were not properly envisioned – real improvements relied upon the use of Virgin Lands whilst productivity had not really increased

Question 4

What was the overall economic condition of Russia by 1964?

Answer 4

By 1964 there was still no solution to the major issue of how to sustain economic growth had been solved