The book gives a general idea of Russia’s economy before the
revolution, and describes the landmarks in the country’s economic
development following the establishment of Soviet power.
Although it is not a monograph for specialists and does not contain
a detailed record of the economic growth of the U.S.S.R., we
hope it will give the reader a fairly comprehensive picture of the
basic problems and stages in the Soviet economic development.

Translated from the Russian by David Fidlon
Edited by G. Ivanov-Mumjiev

You can get the book here and here

Publishers’ Note 7

Chapter I. THE ECONOMY OF FEUDAL RUSSIA 9
1. The Feudal and Serf System of Economy and Its Distinctive Features in Russia 9
2. Agriculture as the Foundation of Economic Activity 13
3. Development of Crafts and Manufactories and Appearance of the Capitalist Factory 19
4. Growth of Towns and Expansion of Trade Ties 24
5. Abolition of Serfdom in Russia 28

Chapter II. RUSSIA’S ECONOMY IN THE EPOCH OF INDUSTRIAL CAPITALISM (1861-1900) 33
1. Development of Capitalist Relations 33
2. Growth of Capitalist Relations in Agriculture 38
3. Completion of the Industrial Revolution and Rise of Capitalist Industry 45
4. Growth of Commodity Circulation, Credit and the State Finance System 52

Chapter III. RUSSIA’S ECONOMY IN THE EPOCH OF IMPERIALISM 58
1. Characteristic Features of Russian Imperialism 58
2. Concentration of Production, Monopolies and Their Place in Russia’s Economy 64
3. Situation in Agriculture and Its Reconstruction Along Capitalist Lines 70
4. Rise of Finance Capital and Expansion of Domestic and Foreign Trade 76
5. Overthrow of Autocracy. The Economic Policy of the Bourgeois Provisional Government 81

Chapter IV. THE ECONOMY OF SOVIET RUSSIA AT THE TIME OF THE VICTORY AND DURING THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM (1917-20) 86
1. World Historic Significance of the Great October Socialist Revolution 86
2. Workers’ Control and Nationalisation of Industry 93
3. Socialist Revolution in the Village. Agriculture and Food Situation 102
4. Economic Policy of the Socialist State 110

Chapter V. ECONOMIC REHABILITATION (1921-25) 116
1. Transition to Peaceful Economic Upbuilding. New Economic Policy (NEP) 116
2. Recovery in Agriculture 122
3. Rehabilitation of Industry 127
4. Trade as the Basic Link of Economic Policy 133
5. Normalisation of Money Circulation and Finances 136

Chapter VI. LAYING THE FOUNDATION OF THE SOCIALIST ECONOMY (1926-32) 140
1. Successes and Difficulties of Economic Upbuilding (1926-28) 140
2. Main Political and Economic Tasks of the First Five-Year Plan (1928-32) 148
3. Transformation of the U.S.S.R. from an Agrarian Country into an Industrial Power 150
4. Socialist Reconstruction of Agriculture 156
5. Trade, Finances and Rise of the People’s Welfare 162

Chapter VII. COMPLETION OF SOCIALIST ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION. VICTORY OF SOCIALISM 166
1. Principal Political and Economic Tasks of the Second Five-Year Plan (1932-37) 166
2. Growth of Socialist Industry and Completion of Its Technical Reconstruction 169
3. Consolidation of the Collective-Farm System and First Successes in Agricultural Production 175
4. Rise in Living Standards. Complete Victory of Socialism 179
5. Economic Development in the Pre-War Years of the Third Five-Year Plan Period (1938-June 1941) 182

Chapter VIII. U.S.S.R. ECONOMY IN THE PERIOD OF THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR OF 1941-45 189
1. Germany’s Perfidious Attack. The Character of the War, Its Outcome and Significance 189
2. Mobilisation of Industry for War Production 194
3. Situation in Agriculture and the Problem of Food Supplies 199
4. Wartime Transport 204
5. Finances During the War 207

Chapter IX. POST-WAR ECONOMIC REHABILITATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE PERIOD OF THE FINAL VICTORY OF SOCIALISM (1946-58) 211
1. General Situation 211
2. Economic Rehabilitation in 1946-48 215
3. Upsurge in Industry in the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Five-Year Plan Periods 219
4. Successes and Difficulties in Agricultural Development 223
5. Development of Science and Culture and Further Improvement of Living Standards 228

Chapter X. SOVIET ECONOMY IN THE PERIOD OF FULL-SCALE COMMUNIST CONSTRUCTION 232
1. Seven-Year Plan as Part of the General Programme of Creating the Material and Technical Basis of Communism 232
2. The Results of the Seven-Year Plan in Industry and Transport 236
3. Agriculture in the Seven-Year Plan Period 242
4. Improvement in Living Standards and Progress in Science and Culture 247
5. Prospects for the Creation of the Material and Technical Basis of Communism 249