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The first 35 years of Soviet living standards: Secular growth and conjunctural crises in a time of famines

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  • Wheatcroft, Stephen G.

Abstract

This article investigates welfare and living standards in the Soviet Union during the great crises of the first 35 years of Soviet power, during which the USSR experienced 5 major famines. It reviews the classic literature on traditional measures of Soviet consumption and recent critiques of them. It discusses the nature of welfare and welfare indicators, the reliability of Soviet statistical indicators on welfare, and it charts the dimensions of the groups in Soviet society that were most vulnerable to these welfare crises. A range of welfare indicators covering nutrition, mortality and stature are critically examined both regarding their immediate and long-term consequences and the groups affected.

Suggested Citation

  • Wheatcroft, Stephen G., 2009. "The first 35 years of Soviet living standards: Secular growth and conjunctural crises in a time of famines," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 24-52, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:exehis:v:46:y:2009:i:1:p:24-52
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. G. Wheatcroft & R. W. Davies & J. M. Cooper, 1986. "Soviet Industrialization Reconsidered: Some Preliminary Conclusions about Economic Development between 1926 and 1941," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 39(2), pages 264-294, May.
    2. S. G. Wheatcroft, 1974. "The reliability of Russian prewar grain output statistics," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 157-180.
    3. Stephen Wheatcroft, 1996. "The scale and nature of German and Soviet repression and mass killings, 1930–451," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(8), pages 1319-1353.
    4. Michael Ellman, 2002. "Soviet Repression Statistics: Some Comments," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(7), pages 1151-1172.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ekaterina Zhuravskaya & Sergei Guriev & Andrei Markevich, 2024. "New Russian Economic History," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(1), pages 47-114, March.
    2. Steckel, Richard H., 2009. "Heights and human welfare: Recent developments and new directions," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-23, January.
    3. Lein-Lein Chen & John Devereux, 2017. "The Iron Rice Bowl: Chinese Living Standards 1952–1978," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 59(3), pages 261-310, September.
    4. Matthias Blum & Christopher L. Colvin & Eoin McLaughlin, 2017. "Scarring and Selection in the Great Irish Famine," Discussion Papers in Environment and Development Economics 2017-10, University of St. Andrews, School of Geography and Sustainable Development.

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