1945-64 Soviet Economic Policy

Question 1

Stalin plans

Answer 1

Industrial recovered quickly and urban living standards rose

Question 2

1950s Soviet economy’s annual growth rate

Answer 2

7.1% opposed to 2.9% USA

Question 3

Output of iron, steel, oil and electrical power…

Answer 3

Doubled

Question 4

6 weaknesses

Answer 4

Failure to adopt new technology
Stalin’s gigantumania (grandiose projects with little economic value)
Grain production low
Labour problems
Shortage of livestock
Productivity low

Question 5

What did Stalin’s gigantomania lead to?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What was grain production 1952?

Answer 6

Still below 1940 levels

Question 7

Productivity

Answer 7

Lower than it had been 1913

Question 8

Khrushchev- where was the priority?

Answer 8

Emphasis on light industry- wider availability of consumer goods and raised living standards.

Question 9

Khrushchev- national income figure

Answer 9

Rose 100-158

Question 10

Khrush- output of consumer goods figure

Answer 10

100-184

Question 11

What showed that farmers were given priority

Answer 11

Incomes doubled 1952-58

Question 12

How much did food production increase by 1953-58?

Answer 12

51%

Question 13

What showed poor quality?

Answer 13

Shoe factory produced its target of shoes but all had the heel nailed to the toe

Question 14

3 main problems

Answer 14

Poor labour productivity, inefficiency and waste

Question 15

What did Virgin Lands lead to?

Answer 15

Successful cash crops being replaced, shortage of animal fodder leading to slaughter of 1 mil livestock

Question 16

What was the ultimate sign of failure?

Answer 16

USSR had to import grain from North America and Australia

Question 17

What was another problem in terms of reforms?

Answer 17

Stiff resistance from Party bureaucracy. Military-industrial complex too strong and watered down economic initiatives not focused on heavy

Question 18

What was shelved bu conservative opponents in the Politburo?

Answer 18

1962 Liberman Plan- attempts to boost the economy by decentralising decision-making and intro of market-based prices