How far was Brezhnev responsible for the economic decline of the USSR?

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How far was Brezhnev responsible for the economic decline of the USSR?

Advantages

  • Attempts by the gov and party to restore stability after Khrushchev's rule
  • Unwillingness of Breznev, Andropov and Chernenko and ruling politburo to consider significant economic reforms. Large grain imports from West rather than reform or build on Khrushchev's reforms: expand Virgin Lands (Part of Developed socialism - focus on job security and low prices at the economy's expense.)2
  • (POL) Growth of corruption in CPSU - minister of interior shchelokov used soviet resources to make himself rich
  • Brezhnev's increasingly poor health through the 70s and incapacity to make decisions
  • Allowed the Black market to flourish as a 2nd economy, undermined Stalinist economics. 'necessary evil'. limited use of terror.
  • Focus on Arms race - Military spending 11% GDP 1964 to 13% GDP by 1970 - Wanted to achieve parity with USA. rather than foster econ growth. Economic imbalance
  • Subsidised consumer goods, demand exceeded supply
  • Brezhnev and Andropov remained dedicated to essential features of the system: Central planning, collectivisation of agriculture and 5 Year plans (From 1966, restored from 7YP)
  • Social contract - Promise of employment and living standards for compliance. Meant people kept in needless jobs so low productivity
  • Reforms of 1970s less successful than Khruschev's initial reforms. INEFFICIENT and INEFFECTIVE
  • Used Oil to borrow money from foreign governments to improve standard of living (Social contract) while neglecting economic growth. 600 million tons of oil in 1980 up from 250 million 1965. while 5.3% annual growth 1964 to 2% in 1970s

Disadvantages

  • Little innovation/change because of conservative attitudes of bureaucrats
  • By 1964 Long-term economic growth had ended (inherited but continued to slow growth in 70s)
  • Policies carried out ineffective - Operation Trawl 1982 Andropov, increased Andropovka consumption. KGB inefficient
  • CPSU ideological unwillingness to develop a consumer economy and conservative attitudes of bureaucrats meant little innovation (But so was Brezhnev)
  • Quantity not quality. Economy designed for heavy. based on weight. But Brezhnev did nothing to address this, reinstalled 5YP from 1966
  • 1979 Afghan war - continued econ imbalance
  • 1973 Oil crisis and 1979 second shock. Brezhnev failure to diversify economy
  • Decline of agriculture and grain harvests. Worsened by refusal to allow experimentation in Kolkhoz work forces.

Evaluation

By 1985 the economy was stagnant/stationary

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