How the Understanding of the Stalinist Economic Model as Reformist Has Evolved

The study examines how a set of ideas for eliminating the “bottlenecks” in the Stalinist economic model came about. The goal is to find out the factors responsible for the “maturation” of recognition by the political elite, public opinion and the scientific community that a market transformation of the economy was necessary. The authors chose to avoid analyzing the features of the Kosygin reform itself and instead focus on the logic behind the ways in which contemporaries addressed the need to improve the national economy’s efficiency. The research methodology is chronological and tracks the changes in positions on issues that determined the underpinnings of the Soviet economy. A comparative method was also used to distinguish the positions of reformers on the main issues: a planned or market economy, forms of ownership, the role of money, price and wage policy, structural policy, social aspects of the economy, etc. The authors employed an interdisciplinary approach that incorporated research from economic, historical, sociological and other social studies along with a concentration on research that probed the basic institutions of the Soviet economy. The study provides a fresh consideration of the issues raised among the political and economic elites and also connects them with extensive material on Soviet economic theory and prevailing public awareness and psychology. The study concludes that improving economic efficiency was a central concern of reformers throughout the Soviet period. The empirical material clearly demonstrates a growing demand for strengthening the role of “economic levers” in the planned economy. The sources examined, including both published and unpublished archival materials from the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History and the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History, support the conclusion that the same Soviet society that had defended the country’s sovereignty in World War II gradually abandoned the messianic ideal of a new, unprecedented global victory for “social justice” and turned towards the consumer society that characterized the West. Although it had already become clear that the growing economic problems could not be solved without a radical change in the very foundations of the economy, an analysis of the late Soviet stage of reform reveals a number of factors that prevented all agents in the process from taking their rethinking of the socialist economy to its logical conclusion. In many ways, this paralysis predetermined the collapse of the economy and the difficult initial conditions under which post-Soviet states were forced to adopt market economic principles.

1. Abalkin L. I. Neispol’zovannyy shans. Poltora goda v pravitel’stve [The Unused Chance. One and a Half Years in the Government]. Moscow, Politizdat, 1991. (In Russ.)

2. Aven P., Kokh A. Revolyutsiya Gaydara. Istoriya reform 90-kh iz pervykh ruk [Gaidar’s Revolution. A First-Hand History of the Reforms of the 1990s]. Moscow, Al’pina Pablisher, 2013. (In Russ.)

3. Aksyutin Yu. V. Khrushchevskaya “ottepel’” i obshchestvennye nastroeniya v SSSR v 19531964 gg. [Khrushchev’s “Thaw” and Public Sentiment in the USSR in 1953-1964]. Moscow, ROSSPEN; Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center Foundation, 2010. (In Russ.)

4. Atlas M., Kadyshev L., Makarova M., Sorokin G., Figurnov P. Ob osnovnom ekonomicheskom zakone [On the Basic Economic Law]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 1962, no. 1, pp. 39-52. (In Russ.)

5. Belik Yu. Velichestvennaya programma povysheniya zhiznennogo urovnya sovetskogo naroda [The Majestic Program for Raising the Standard of Living of the Soviet People]. Planovoe khozyaystvo [Planned Economy], 1962, no. 1, pp. 3-13. (In Russ.)

6. Belykh A. A., Mau V. A. Ekonomicheskie reformy v Rossii: voprosy teorii i praktika XIX - nachala XX v. [Economic Reforms in Russia: Theoretical Aspects and the Practice of 19th - Early 20th Century]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 2020, no. 1, pp. 1-29. DOI: 10.32609/0042-8736-20201-18-46. (In Russ.)

7. Belykh A. A., Mau V. A. Ekonomicheskie reformy v SSSR: 1921-1985 gg. [Economic Reforms in the USSR: 1921-1985]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 2023, no. 11, pp. 81-108. DOI: 10.32609/0042-8736-2023-11-81-108. (In Russ.)

8. Bespyatova E. B. Nekotorye aspekty motivatsii truda rukovodyashchikh rabotnikov v kontekste korrektirovki “stalinskoy” ekonomicheskoy modeli [Some Aspects of Motivation of Management Employees in the Context of Adjustment of the “Stalinist” Economic Model] // Zigzagi i tupiki rossiyskoy modernizatsii (kon. XIX - nach. XXI vv.): kollektivnaya monografiya v chest’ 85-letiya V. V. Zhuravleva [Zigzags and Dead Ends of Russian Modernization (Late 20th - Early 21st Centuries): Collective Monograph in Honor of the 85th Anniversary of V. V. Zhuravlev]. Moscow, BukEkspert, 2023, рр. 233-252. (In Russ.)

9. Birman I. Ya - ekonomist (o sebe, lyubimom) [I Аm an Economist (About Myself - Beloved)]. Moscow, Vremya, 2001. (In Russ.)

10. Boldin V. I. Krushenie p’edestala. Shtrikhi k portretu M. S. Gorbacheva [The Collapse of the Pedestal. Strokes to the Portrait of M. S. Gorbachev]. Moscow, Respublika, 1995. (In Russ.)

11. Chernyaev A., Weber A., Medvedev V. (eds.). V Politbyuro TSK KPSS… Po zapisyam Anatoliya Chernyaeva, Vadima Medvedeva, Georgiya Shakhnazarova (1985-1991) [In the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU... Based on the Notes of Anatoly Chernyaev, Vadim Medvedev, Georgy Shakhnazarov (1985-1991)]. Moscow, Al’pina Biznes Buks, 2006. (In Russ.)

12. Voznesenskiy N. A. K voprosu ob ekonomike sotsializma [On the Question of the Economics of Socialism]. Bolshevik, 1931, no. 23-24, pp. 33-54. (In Russ.)

13. Galushka A. S., Niyazmetov A. K., Okulov M. O. Kristall rosta k russkomu ekonomicheskomu chudu [Growth Crystal for the Russian Economic Miracle]. Moscow, Nashe zavtra, 2021. (In Russ.)

14. Gorbachev M. S. Zhizn’ i reformy: v 2 kn. Kn. 1 [Life and Reforms, in 2 books. Book 1]. Moscow, Novosti, 1995. (In Russ.)

15. Grushin B. A. Chetyre zhizni Rossii v zerkale oprosov obshchestvennogo mneniya. Ocherki massovogo soznaniya rossiyan vremen Khrushcheva, Brezhneva, Gorbachova i Yeltsina: v 4 kn. Kn. 1: Epokha Khrushcheva [Four Lives of Russia in the Mirror of Public Opinion Polls. Essays on the Mass Consciousness of Russians During the Times of Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, and Yeltsin, in 4 books. Book 1. The Khrushchev Era]. Moscow, Progress-Traditsiya, 2001. (In Russ.)

16. Zhuravlev V. V. Lazareva L. N. “Nuzhno podnyat’ uroven’ ekonomicheskikh znaniy”. Stalinskaya metoda sozdaniya uchebnika politicheskoy ekonomiki [“It Is Necessary to Raise the Level of Economic Knowledge.” Stalin’s Method of Creating a Textbook on Political Economy]. Rodina [Homeland], 2014, no. 3, pp. 54-61. (In Russ.)

17. Zhuravlev V. V. Sovetskiy zakon o natsionalizatsii nedvizhimosti v gorodakh i ego dolgo- vremennye sotsiokul’turnye sledstviya [The Soviet Law on the Nationalization of Real Estate in Cities and Its Long-Term Socio-Cultural Consequences]. In: Uroki Oktyabrya i praktiki sovetskoy sistemy. 1920-1950-e gody: Materialy X mezhdunarodnoy nauchnoy konferentsii. Moskva, 5-7 dekabrya 2017 g. [Lessons of October and the Practices of the Soviet System. 1920-1950s: Proceedings of the 10th International Scientific Conference. Moscow, 5-7 December 2017]. Moscow, Politicheskaya entsiklopediya; Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center, 2018, рр. 797-804. (In Russ.)

18. Zemskov V. N. Stalinskaya epokha. Ekonomika, repressii, industrializatsiya. 1924-1954 [The Stalin Era. Economy, Repressions, Industrialization. 1924-1954]. Moscow, Veche, 2018. (In Russ.)

19. Ignatovskiy P. A., Shcheglovskiy V. I. Sovetskaya ekonomika: opyt i perspektivy [Soviet Economy: Experience and Prospects]. Moscow, Politizdat, 1989. (In Russ.)

20. Kronrod Ya. A. Za tvorcheskuyu diskussiyu protiv skholastiki [For a Creative Discussion Against Scholasticism]. Problemy ekonomiki [Problems of Economics], 1940, no. 11, pp. 65-79. (In Russ.)

21. Mau V. A. Gosudarstvo i ekonomika: opyt ekonomicheskikh reform [State and Economy: Experience of Economic Reforms]. Moscow, Delo, 2017. (In Russ.)

22. Medvedev V. A. Raspad. Kak on nazreval v “mirovoy sisteme sotsializma” [The Collapse. How It Was Brewing in the “World System of Socialism”]. Moscow, Mezhdunarodnye otnoshe- niya, 1994. (In Russ.)

23. Nayshul V. A. Problema sozdaniya rynka v SSSR [The Problem of Creating a Market in the USSR]. In: Borodkin F. M., Kosals L. Ya., Ryvkina R. V. (eds.). Postizhenie: Sociologiya. Social’naya politika. Ekonomicheskaya reforma [Comprehension: Sociology. Social Policy. Economic Reform]. Moscow, Progress, 1989, pp. 441-454. (In Russ.)

24. Krasavchenko S. N., Podvoyskiy G. L. (eds.). Narodnye deputaty SSSR: ekonomika segodnya i zavtra: sbornik [People’s Deputies of the USSR: Economy Today and Tomorrow: Collection]. Moscow, Moskovskiy rabochiy, 1990. (In Russ.)

25. Ostrovityanov K. V. Politicheskaya ekonomiya [Political Economy]. Moscow, Sovetskie uchebniki, 2021. (In Russ.)

26. Zhuravlev V. V. (ed.). Politicheskie partii Rossii. Konets XIX - nachalo XX v.: v 3 t. T. 3: Sotsia- listicheskie partii [Political Parties of Russia. Late 19th - Early 20th Century, in 3 vols. Vol. 3: Socialist Parties]. Moscow, Politicheskaya entsiklopediya, 2022. (In Russ.)

27. Popkova L. Gde pyshnee pirogi? [Where Are the Pies Fluffier?]. Novyy mir [New World], 1987, no. 5, pp. 239-241. (In Russ.)

28. Fetisov T. I. (ed.). Prem’er izvestnyy i neizvestnyy: Vospominaniya o A. N. Kosygine [The Prime Minister Known and Unknown: Memories of A. N. Kosygin]. Moscow, Respublika, 1997. (In Russ.)

29. Zhuravlev V. V. (ed.). Reformy v Rossii s drevneyshikh vremen do nashikh dney: v 4 t. T. 4: 1917-1991 gg. [Reforms in Russia From Ancient Times to the Present Day, in 4 vols. Vol. 4: 1917-1991]. Moscow, ROSSPEN, 2016. (In Russ.)

30. Ryzhkov N. I. Desyat’ let velikikh potryaseniy [Ten Years of Great Upheavals]. Moscow, Association “Kniga. Prosveshchenie. Miloserdie,” 1995. (In Russ.)

31. Safronov A. Bol’shaya sovetskaya ekonomika: 1917-1991 [The Great Soviet Economy: 19171991]. Moscow, Individuum, Eksmo, 2025. (In Russ.)

32. Sogrin V. V. Politicheskaya istoriya sovremennoy Rossii. 1985-1994. Ot Gorbacheva do Yel- tsina [Political History of Modern Russia. 1985-1994. From Gorbachev to Yeltsin]. Moscow, Progress-Akademiya, 1994. (In Russ.)

33. Stalin I. V. Ekonomicheskie problemy sotsializma v SSSR [Economic Problems of Socialism in the USSR]. Moscow, Gosudarstvennoe izdatel’stvo politicheskoy literatury, 1952. (In Russ.)

34. Zhuravlev V. V., Lazareva L. N. (eds.). Stalinskoe ekonomicheskoe nasledstvo: plany i diskussii. 1947-1953 gg.: Dokumenty i materialy [Stalin’s Economic Legacy: Plans and Discussions. 1947-1953: Documents and Materials]. Moscow, Politicheskaya entsiklopediya, 2017. (In Russ.)

35. Mau V., Starodubrovskaya I. The Challenge of Revolution: Contemporary Russia in Historical Perspective. New York, Oxford University Press, 2001.

36. Telitsyn V. L. Aleksey Kosygin. «Vtoroy» sredi «pervykh», «pervyy» sredi «vtorykh» [Alexey Kosygin. “The Second” Among the “First”, “The First” Among the “Second”]. Moscow, AFK “Sistema,” Politicheskaya entsiklopediya, 2022. (In Russ.)

37. Bukher V. G. (ed.). “Uchebnik dolzhen pol’zovat’sya neprerekaemym avtoritetom.” Besedy I. V. Stalina s uchenymi-ekonomistami. 1941, 1950, 1952 gg. [“The Textbook Must En- joy Unquestionable Authority.” Conversations of I. V. Stalin With Economists. 1941, 1950, 1952]. Istoricheskiy arkhiv [Historical Archive], 2012, no. 4, pp. 3-31. (In Russ.)

38. Chuev F. I. Molotov: Poluderzhavnyy vlastelin [Molotov: The Semi-Sovereign Ruler]. Moscow, Olma-Press, 1999. (In Russ.)

39. Shelest P. E. Da ne sudimy budete. Dnevniki i vospominaniya chlena Politbyuro TsK KPSS [Let Ye Not Be Judged. Diaries and Memoirs of a Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU]. Moscow, Tsentropoligraf, 2016. (In Russ.)

40. Shepilov D. T. Neprimknuvshiy. Vospominaniya [Non-Aligned. Memories]. Moscow, Tsentr- poligraf, 2017. (In Russ.)