Textbook

The Russian Economy: From Lenin to Putin

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Overview

The epic tale of the Soviet Union's quest to construct a socialist economy was, until recently, the principal motif of textbooks on the Russian economy. Rosefielde's new text offers a more sober recounting of the Bolshevik saga, stripped bare of socialist romanticism, focused equally on the micro- and macoeconomics of administrative command planning, and Russia's post-Communist market system. Understanding the Soviet economic system and the causes of its failure are central to any student's study of Russia's struggle towards a market economy and its prospects for the future.

New textbook, offering a more sober recounting of the Bolshevik saga, stripped bare of socialist romanticism.

Focuses equally on the micro- and macroeconomics of administrative command planning, and Russia's post-communist market system.

Table of Contents

List of Figures.

List of Tables.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Acronyms.

Part I: Foundations.

1. Muscovy and the West.

2. Economic Fundamentals.

Part II: Soviet Communism: Lenin and Stalin.

3. War Communism: 1917-1921.

4. NEP: 1921-1929.

5. Command Communism: 1929-1953.

6. Terror, Homicides, and Forced Labor: 1929-1953.

7. Economic Performance: 1929-1953.

Part III: Soviet Communism: Hope and Disenchantment.

8. Reform Communism: 1953-1991.

9. Structural Militarization.

10. Delusions of Adequacy.

Part IV: Russia.

11. Post-Communism.

12. Prospects.

Notes.

Glossary.

Bibliography.

Index

Author Information

Steven Rosefielde is Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. He is the author of Comparative Economic Systems: Culture, Wealth, and Power in the 21st Century (Blackwell, 2002).

Hallmark Features

New textbook, offering a more sober recounting of the Bolshevik saga, stripped bare of socialist romanticism.
Focuses equally on the micro- and macroeconomics of administrative command planning, and Russia's post-communist market system.
Provides students with an understanding of the Soviet economic system and the causes of its failure that are so central to any study of Russia's struggle towards a market economy and its prospects for the future.

Reviews

“This is a much-needed book that should be read by all. Many of us know how the Russian economy works. We think it used to be a communist system in which the government controlled all production, and now it’s become a capitalist system much like those we have in the west. In fact, both of these views are largely incorrect. There is a uniquely Russian economic culture which we would be well advised to try to understand. This book is the first to spell out exactly how the Russian economy works. It is enormously valuable.”
Quinn Mills, Harvard Business School

“In this path-breaking book, Steven Rosefielde combines solid economic theory with a keen understanding of cultural specificity, arriving at a thought-provoking explanation of why Russian economic performance has remained inferior to the western ideal.”
Stefan Hedlund, University of Uppsala, Sweden

“Russia’s continuing regression from liberalism in politics and economics has a context. It is not just due to the evil machinations of Putin, Yeltsin, and their entourages. For those who wish to understand how Russia got to where it is and where it might be going, this is an immensely useful and tough-minded analysis.”
Stephen Blank, Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College