Khrushchev economy Flashcards
Under Stalin: each farm had to produce a quota of goods - which was bought off the government for a very low price
Under Khrushchev: He reduced the quotas and introduced higher prices for everything that was produced in addition to the quota - What did this lead to?
Led to a 250% rise in farm incomes between 1952-1956
When was the Virgin Lands Scheme initiated?
1953
What was the Virgin Lands Scheme?
Cultivating previously untouched lands in the Soviet Union - particularly in Kazakhstan and Siberia - to increase grain production and alleviate food shortages
What was the main aim of the Virgin Lands Scheme?
To boost grain production
To transform the Soviet Union into a major agricultural power to compete with the West
What was the extent of agricultural investment growth during the period of the Virgin Lands Scheme from 1954 to 1959?
Under 3% a year to 12.8% a year of the Soviet budget
When did Khrushchev introduce the Corn Campaign?
1955
What was the Corn Campaign?
Khrushchev encouraged farmers to grow maize
This initiative aimed to increase maize cultivation as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity and address food shortages
Khrushchev believed that maize could be a valuable crop for feeding both livestock and the population
The Corn Campaign was a failure. What statistic shows this?
Soviet farms were only able to produce 50% of the corn per hectare that the US farms managed
Why was the Corn Campaign a failure?
Lower labour productivity and differences in climate
The opportunity cost of producing more corn meant that Soviet farms produced less hay. What did this lead to?
The amount of animal feed produced by Soviet farms reduced by 30%
The Virgin Lands Scheme was initially very successful. What shows this?
Agriculture rose by 35.3% between 1953-1958
Greater meat and milk production led to a 400% increase in income of farm workers - better living standards for Soviet citizens
There were many agricultural failures during the 1950s and 1960s. The main issue was efficiency. What shows this?
44% to 54% of the Soviet population worked on farms
Only 5% of the American population worked on farms - and still produced double the food that the USSR produced
Production slowly increased between 1960-1964. Overall agricultural production was around __ per cent higher in 1964 than in ____
15
1958
Agricultural production was moderately successful. Why did Khrushchev see it as a failure?
it was no where near what Khrushchev was aiming for in his plans - it did not meet his aims and therefore considered a failure
Stalin deliberately kept living standards low for increased spending in military. His heirs were dedicated into increasing living standards for the people. When did Khrushchev begin cuts in military spending?
1955
