An overview of socialist planning that explains the underlying theory and its limitations, also placing developments in their historical perspective.

The inside story of the political collpase of the Soviet Union is far better understood than the course of economic and social disintegration. In order to capture the story, the editors compiled a list of questions which they addressed to former top Soviet officials and economic and other policy advisors (both Soviet and foreign) who were privy not only to data on the functioning of the Soviet economy but also to the internal policy debate during the 1980s. This volume assembles the Informants' analyses of key issues and the turning points, and weaves them into a compelling history of systemic collapse. Among the topics investigated are: economic policies in the 1980s; the standard of living: the reliability of Soviet statistics; Gosplan's projections for the economy to the year 2000; was the arms race starving the civilian economy? the role of ideology in supporting the functioning of an economic system; the party's participating in economic management; the influence of foreign advisors; the struggle over a transition program; the functioning and collapse of the supply system, the CMEA, and the foreign trade system.

The transition from state socialism to modern capitalism in Eastern Europe is one of the main challenges facing economics in the 1990s. Combining the detached analysis of a Western specialist with the detailed knowledge of two Eastern European academics, Economic Transition in Eastern Europe avoids a priori assumptions and superficial description to give a rigorous empirical analysis of the process of transition. Professor Ellman begins with a discussion of the general aspects of transition. He explains the difference between the current transition and the former reform, and examines the reasons for the collapse of the old system. He also discusses different approaches to transition and the economic issues raised. Dr Gaidar presents an analysis of the economic catastrophe inherited by the independent Russian government and the measures needed to stabilize the situation. Professor Kolodko's contribution examines the stabilization policy pursued in Poland since 1990. He explains its aims and results, and considers the future of the Polish economy. The authors provide up-to-date empirical material and combine this with surveys of the relevant theoretical literature. The book offers students, academics and professionals a valuable and informed insight into the momentous economic transition currently under way in Eastern Europe.

Research papers on economic policy issues in socialist countries and capitalist countries, with partic. Reference to the USSR - analyses economic implications of Soviet collective farming, and income distribution, inflation, economic growth under Kosygin and Brezhnev, etc.; discusses full employment and productivity in the agricultural sector in socialist countries; considers economic reform in China's industrial sector and the industrial policy of the Netherlands; comments on the economic theory of convergence. Graphs, references.