[Marxism] soviet economic indicators

[Jon Baranov]

Hi,

How reliable do you think are the statistics we have about
Soviet or Chinese (Mao period) economic growth. 
For example Trotsky writes in "Revolution Betrayed":

"[Soviet] industrial production has increased during this same period 
approximately3 1/2 times, or 250 per cent. The heavy industries have 
increased their production during the last decade (1925 to 1935) more 
than 10 times. In the first year of the five-year plan (1928 to 1929), 
capital investments amounted to 5.4 billion rubles; for 1936, 32 billion 
are indicated." (he gives a few other statistics if you're interested)

There are many statistical indications of spectacular extensive 
economic growth in the USSR and the PRC (under Mao). But 
how do we know that these are reliable and not inflated? Also, 
leaving aside the "terroristic" Stalin era, how feasible was it for 
observers to get an accurate picture of industry, agriculture 
and welfare ? - researchers routinely complained about restrictions
and monitoring...


 
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