Russia's Soviet economy

THE APPEARANCE of a second edition of this study of the Soviet economy less than four years after publication of the first edition is the result of several factors. First, the swift pace of events since mid-1950 has illuminated many formerly obscure facets of the Soviet economy and-particularly since Stalin's death-raised a number of new major problems. Second, the almost unanimously kind reception given to the first edition by noncommunist reviewers has encouraged the author's belief that a comprehensive study of this type meets a real need. Third, government officials, college teachers, and others concerned with the Soviet economy have suggested that bringing the volume up to date would greatly increase its usefulness.

In preparing this second edition, the emphasis has been upon the inclusion of material dealing with developments from mid-1950 to mid-1954, as well as material dealing with earlier periods which be came available only after the manuscript of the first edition had been completed. Though the basic skeleton of the volume has remained unchanged - having been found sound by the great majority of those who have been kind enough to communicate their opinions to the author - this present edition is able to report on the nature and prog ress of the Fifth Five-Year Plan, the changes in economic policy following Stalin's death, the struggle over East-West trade, Soviet progress in nuclear physics and other branches of weapons develop ment, and the like. In addition, where appropriate, account has been taken of that rich source of data, the formerly secret Soviet Eco nomic Plan for 1941.