Proposed Reforms of the Economic System of Information and Decision in the USSR: Commentary and Advice

Abstract

This chapter takes up the range of proposed reforms of the economy receiving attention in the Soviet Union. The chapter is divided into three sections: the first a commentary on the reform discussion (with brief summaries of the leading written plans), the second an attempt to project the broad direction that any adopted program is likely to take with some indication of its possible weaknesses, and the third our suggestions at those points where in our view the program of reform will need strengthening or additional thinking to increase the likelihood that it will come near to achieving its goals.

This paper was prepared by the authors as a part of the contribution of the European Bank for Reconstruction and of Development to the multi-agency Joint Study of the Economy of the Soviet Union requested by the governments of the G7 and to be published in February 1991. The authors are grateful to the Soviet economy specialists among their academic colleagues and within the European Bank mission team for helpful information and instruction.