This book provides a comprehensive survey of Soviet economic development from 1917 to 1965 in the context of the prerevolutionary economy. In these years the Soviet Union was transformed from a predominantly agrarian country into a major industrial power. These developments resulted in great economic achievements at great human cost. Professor Davies discusses the inherent faults and strengths of the Soviet system, paying particular attention to the major controversies, and presents the results of recent Russian and Western research.

This book is ideal for students studying a key period of Soviet economic history. It brings together and makes available the results of the latest research on Soviet industrialization, using a vast amount of primary evidence, and the methods of quantitative economic analysis. Leading scholars in the field analyze the Soviet economy sector by sector, from agriculture to defense and technology, and look at the key indicators of economic health over the period: employment, national income, exports, and population trends. The book concludes with two chapters comparing the Russian economy at war...