The Soviet Economic Growth Record

Abstract

This chapter will discuss how well the distinctive set of institutions we have described has performed in achieving the various objectives one might postulate for any economic system. In particular, how well has it fulfilled the special goal the Soviet leadership posed for it of “overtaking and surpassing the advanced capitalist nations”? Success on this score might be evaluated in terms of two more specific questions: How fast has the Soviet economy grown, and how big is its output today compared to U.S. output? We might also ask about efficiency and productivity; these are important factors in interpreting past growth, in evaluating performance, and in judging the reserves for future growth.