The Disintegration of the Soviet Economic System

The Soviet system was one of the few distinct ways of organizing human affairs in all areas of human life. Its disintegration is enormously important both in its own right and because of its implications for the rest of the world. Why did the Soviet economic system fall apart so spectacularly? This book examines the era of collapse in detail. It is set in its political context, both international and domestic and is looked at from a macroeconomic point of view, both real and financial, with chapters on such important sectors as agriculture and the railroads. Because the USSR is such a large country it is also analyzed in a regional perspective, with chapters on Central Asia and the allocation of investment between republics. Attention is paid to the welfare of the population, their health and consumer development. The environment and technical progress are also considered. In their overview the editors sum up the book and offer a controversial interpretation of the disintegration process. This book should be of interest to academics and undergraduates interested in Soviet studies and economics.

Table of Contents:
1. Overview Michael Ellman and Vladimir Kontorovich Part I: Economics, Politics and Society 2. The Soviet Economy and International Politics Russel Bova 3. Social and Moral Aspects of the Crisis: Their Sources and Consequences Iurii Levada Part II: Macroeconomic Developments 4. Economic Growth in the 1980s Grigorii Khanin 5. Soviet Consumption in the 1980s: A Tale of Woe Gertrude E. Schroeder 6. Money in the 1980s - From Disequilibrium to Collapse Michael Ellman Part III: Regions and Sectors 7. The Central Asian Economy in Comparitive Perspective Alistair McAuley 8. Allocation of Investment among Soviet Republics in the 1980s John P. Burkett 9. The Railoroads Vladimir Kontorovich 10. Agriculture's Role in the Soviet Economic Crisis Edward C. Cook 11. Technical Progress and Research and Development Vladimir Kontorovich Part IV: Quality of Life 12. The Environment: From Stagnation to Collapse Zeev Wolfson 13. Health W. Ward Kingkade.