After the death of I.V. Stalin, the question of the need for a new economic course arose in the country. G. M. Malenkov in August 1953 put forward the idea of economic reforms, the essence of which was the intensive development Agriculture, food and light industry. Thus, it was planned to transfer priorities from the heavy industry sector to these areas.
The main purpose of the reorganization economic development were the increase in productivity and the interest in this of the villagers. Collective farmers were written off debts on agricultural tax, the amount of tax was reduced by half.
The idea of G. M. Malenkov was welcomed by the population, but did not receive the support of N. S. Khrushchev. The initiator of the program was dismissed, after which the reforms he proposed gradually ceased to operate.
Pursuing the goal of raising the economy of the post-war state, the government led by Khrushchev implemented a number of reorganization measures.
Since 1957, decentralization of power has been taking place in the country. The ministries are being replaced by sectoral economic councils. The reorganization did not introduce fundamental changes, except for the reduction in the number of administrative staff. Businesses were still powerless.
Unlike Malenkov's program aimed at increasing crop yields, Khrushchev's reforms were designed to expand the area under crops. The development of virgin lands begins. According to analysts, the path of development proposed by Malenkov is recognized as “intensive”; Khrushchev - "extensive".
Collective farmers received the right to expand their farm by 5 times, they were exempted from paying a cash tax on part-time farming. The villagers received passports and retirement pensions. The purchase price for agricultural products has increased significantly. The result of the changes in 1953 - 1958. there was an increase in agricultural production by 34% in comparison with the previous five-year period.
The rapid growth in the welfare of collective farmers caused the government to fear a return to the kulaks. The problem was solved in this way: economic incentives began to be replaced by administrative coercion.
The insolvency of auxiliary peasant farms was widely promoted. Kolkhozes and sovkhozes were urged to redeem the livestock from the villagers within 2-3 years. Since 1959, MTS has been reorganized. Collective farms are forced to buy equipment at an exorbitantly high cost during the year. This step allowed the state to fully compensate for the funds invested in the development of the industry earlier.
Since the change in the course of reforms in agriculture, the country has been experiencing an aggravation of the food problem. For the first time in a long period of time, grain is purchased from abroad. The “corn epic” promoted by Khrushchev does not save, because the expansion of the area under crops occurs at the expense of the reduction of strategic grain crops.
The crisis touched the program for the development of virgin lands. As a result of weak land use systems, activities lead to soil erosion. In 1962, the government introduces "interim measures" to overcome the food crisis. Prices for meat and dairy products rise significantly, which ultimately meets with acute disapproval of the population.
An example of open speeches was the uprising in Novocherkassk. To suppress public discontent, Khrushchev gives the order to send troops against the protesters. As a result of the clashes, there were numerous casualties, mostly among the civilian population.
Agricultural reform failed. The Novocherkassk events and the failure of the reform led to the fall of Khrushchev's authority.
Intensive development of mechanical engineering, production building materials, the petrochemical industry and energy have led the country's leadership to confidence in the further growth of production volumes.
An important aspect in the development National economy was the introduction of scientific and technological progress (STP). In the USSR, for the first time in the world, rocket and space complexes were created. In 1957, an artificial satellite was launched into the Earth's orbit, and already in 1961, the country became a pioneer in space exploration thanks to the flight of Yu. Gagarin.
The formation of economic councils contributed to the strengthening of the rights of local authorities, but hindered the implementation of scientific and technical progress. Industry developed through the construction of new enterprises, and not by increasing and developing existing capacities.
An attempt to increase the rate of economic growth and restore ties between regions was the creation of the Supreme Economic Council - the Supreme Council of the National Economy. This step led to an increase in the administrative apparatus. Despite the desire to overcome the negative moments, the growth rate of industry has steadily declined.
By the beginning of the 60s, the model of the industrial society of the USSR was built. But the transition to a new stage of development without further reorganization of the economy has become impossible.
Khrushchev's economic development program had a pronounced social character. Among the measures aimed at improving the lives of the population were:
Of the minuses of the reform, it is worth noting the reduction in tariff rates and postscripts in production, the rise in prices for food and basic necessities. Thus, the problems in the development of the economy were partially solved at the expense of the workers.
By the end of the Khrushchev period, the government clearly recognized the need for radical economic reforms. As a result of the above reorganizations, the priority of stimulating the economy in the further development of the country has clearly been identified.
Detailed solution paragraph § 40 on history workbook for students in grade 9, authors Danilov A. A., Kosulina L. G. 2016
Exercise 1
From the speech of G. M. Malenkov, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, at the 5th session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Until now, we have not had the opportunity to develop light and food industries at the same pace as heavy industry. At the present time we can, and therefore we must, in the interests of ensuring a more rapid rise in the material and cultural standard of living of the people, accelerate the development of light industry in every possible way.
The Government and the Central Committee of the Party consider it necessary to significantly increase investments in the development of the light, food and, in particular, fishing industry, in the development of agriculture and to correct towards a significant increase in the tasks for the production of consumer goods; to enlist more widely machine-building and other enterprises of heavy industry in the production of consumer goods...
In order to ensure a steep rise in the production of consumer goods, we must first of all take care of the further development and advancement of agriculture, which supplies the population with food and light industry with raw materials...
In this regard, the Government and the Central Committee of the Party considered it necessary to go for a significant reduction in the norms of mandatory deliveries from the personal subsidiary plots of collective farmers, decided ... to change the system of imposing agricultural tax on collective farmers, to reduce the cash tax by about half from each collective farm yard and to completely remove the remaining arrears on agricultural tax of previous years ...
The government and the Central Committee of the Party also decided to seriously correct and change the wrong attitude that has developed in our country towards the personal subsidiary plots of collective farmers.
Of great importance is the increase in the material interest of collective farms and state farms in the growth of agricultural crop yields and the development of public animal husbandry. To this end, the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Party recognized the need to raise the currently existing procurement and purchase prices for livestock products, potatoes and vegetables ... It is important to note, however, that retail prices for livestock products, potatoes and vegetables are not increasing , but on the contrary, they decrease every year. The line for reducing retail prices for consumer goods will continue to be drawn.
From the report of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU N.S. Khrushchev at the XX Congress of the CPSU. 1956
There were "wise men" who began to oppose light industry to heavy industry, assuring us that the predominant development of heavy industry was necessary only in the early stages of the Soviet economy, and now it remains only for us to speed up the development of light industry.
Only incorrigible braggarts can close their eyes to the fact that in economic terms we have not yet surpassed the most developed capitalist countries, that our level of production is still insufficient to ensure a prosperous life for all members of society, that the country still has many shortcomings and disorganization in economic and cultural terms.
At a certain stage, the social economy of the collective farms will reach a level of development when it will be possible to fully satisfy the needs of the collective farmers at the expense of its resources. On this basis, personal subsidiary plots will gradually become obsolete economically...
1. What is common in economic strategy proposed by G.M. Malenkov and N.S. Khrushchev in 1953?
2. What, in your opinion, is the fundamental difference in the approaches to the development of industrial production proposed by G.M. Malenkov and N.S. Khrushchev?
3. Where do you see the fundamental difference in the approaches of these politicians to the development of agriculture?
4. Is there a difference in relation to G.M. Malenkov and N.S. Khrushchev to the private farm of peasants?
5. Due to what sources N.S. Khrushchev intended to ensure large investments in agriculture, pay off the debts of collective farms to the state and maintain and even reduce retail prices for agricultural products? Were these projects realistic, given the situation in the food supply of the early 1960s? Why?
1. Improvement economic situation collective farms. The introduction of private farms.
2. Malenkov talked about the accelerated development of light industry, Khrushchev - about the continuation of the development of heavy industry.
3. Malenkov proposed to reduce tax burden on collective farms and write off all arrears. Khrushchev - only to raise purchase prices.
4. Malenkov - the attitude towards personal subsidiary farming is wrong, it needs to be changed. Khrushchev - personal subsidiary plots - this is a necessity in the transition to communism. Over time, it will heal itself.
5. Raise the currently existing procurement and purchase prices for livestock products, potatoes and vegetables ... And the rapid expansion of the sown area. For this, it was proposed to use virgin lands. Everything was decided by administrative measures. The projects were realistic until the onset of the food crisis, when grain had to be purchased from abroad. The crisis was provoked by the short-sighted policy of the country's leadership.
Task 2
Analyze the given data and answer the questions.
18 million ha 37 million ha
1955 1962
1. How can you explain the priority expansion of corn crops in these years?
2. What were the consequences of the "corn campaign" for the development of agriculture?
1. To be better than other countries in everything, in particular the USA.
2. More than 2-fold reduction in grain harvest. As a result, the purchase of grain abroad increased food prices.
Task 3
Review the documents and answer the questions.
From the address of the participants of the Moscow meeting of Komsomol members and youth who expressed a desire to go to the development of virgin lands. January 1955
We will be worthy of the trust and care of our own mother - the Communist Party! Let us please the Motherland with new successes in the struggle to conquer millions of hectares of virgin and fallow lands! We give the unbreakable Komsomol word to the Central Committee of the Party and the Soviet government - we will work honestly and selflessly in the new lands.
From the memoirs of a virgin
I clearly see the shortcomings in the organization of the grandiose virgin epic, the unreasonableness of other decisions, the ill-conceived components of the strategy, which subsequently largely nullified the results achieved. In front of our eyes, the equipment pulled to the virgin lands from all over the country fell into disrepair. Thousands of people were knocked down, not having time to harvest from gigantic areas. Crops perished on the vine, there was no place to store grain. There was a colossal waste of billions of dollars, material and technical means, human labor. Virgin lands cost the country dearly. Today, I think that all the costs of that time could have brought a greater return with a different approach to solving the grain problem. But no other approach was possible at that time.
1. How can you explain the need to develop virgin and fallow lands?
2. Were there other ways to solve the problem of providing the country with grain?
3. What do you see as the reasons for the colossal costs in the development of virgin lands?
4. Do you agree with the statement of the virgin land owner that “another approach was impossible at that time”? Why?
1. Increase in acreage.
2. Malenkov's program, which was rejected.
3. Illiterate organization of the development of virgin lands: lack of warehouses for storing grain, the need for other equipment for plowing new lands, gigantic areas on which they could not organize the harvest.
4. It is possible that another trip would have taken longer.
Task 4
Analyze the documents, answer the questions and complete the task.
From the Program of the CPSU, adopted at the XXII Congress. 1961
As a result of the second decade (1971-1980), the material and technical basis of communism will be created, providing an abundance of material and cultural benefits for the entire population; Soviet society will come close to implementing the principle of distribution according to needs, there will be a gradual transition to a single public property. Thus, a communist society will be built in the USSR in the main... The CPSU plans to increase the volume of industrial output: within the next 10 years, approximately two and a half times and surpass the level of industrial production in the USA; at least six times within 20 years and leave the current total US industrial production far behind ...
The Party solemnly proclaims: the present generation of Soviet people will live under communism!
From the report of N. S. Khrushchev at the XXII Congress of the CPSU. 1961
Bourgeois critics unanimously, as if on command, shouted: "The program is impossible!" Again, spells familiar from the first Soviet five-year plans flashed on the pages of reactionary newspapers: “utopia”, “mirage”, “illusion”. Maybe the opponents of our Program have figures, calculations, facts? Nothing like this. In our Program, every provision is substantiated. They only have loud statements. We have calculated and proven every figure. They are afraid of numbers as hell incense. We have given an accurate, scientific analysis of the tendencies of historical development. They have hysterical spells, fruitless fortune-telling on coffee grounds ...
1. What did the leadership of the CPSU proceed from when presenting the Program for building communism in the USSR by 1980?
2. How do you feel about the forecasts of Western funds mass media about the impossibility of fulfilling the Program of the CPSU? What were their forecasts for the decline in economic growth in the USSR?
1. The CPSU plans to increase the volume of industrial output: within the next 10 years, approximately two and a half times and surpass the level of US industrial production; at least six times within 20 years and leave the current total US industrial production far behind
2. As you grow economic power USSR, the pace of economic development will fade.
Task 5
Review the document and answer the questions.
From the draft Constitution of the USSR 1962-1964.
Article 7 State property is the common property of all the working people of town and country.
The state owns land, its subsoil, water, forests and other natural resources, factories, factories, mines, mines, power plants, railway, water, air and road transport, agricultural enterprises, products manufactured at state enterprises, residential buildings, trade, municipal and other enterprises, banks, means of communication.
Any other property may also be owned by the state...
Article 31 household and household, personal consumption and convenience, as well as the right to inherit personal property ...
The personal property of citizens has a consumer purpose... It is not allowed to use personal property to extract unearned income, as well as for other purposes contrary to the interests of society and the state.
1. In your opinion, which of the above provisions were included in the draft Constitution of 1962-1964. for the first time (in comparison with the previous constitutions of the country)?
2. How can you comment on the property relations fixed in the draft Basic Law of the country?
3. How do you understand what is the "consumer character" of the personal property of citizens under socialism?
4. Can you name any natural and economic objects, not fixed in the Constitution as related to state property?
5. What was the effectiveness of the economic system that existed in the USSR?
6. What should have been done, in your opinion, to improve the efficiency of the Soviet economic system?
1. State property is the common property of all the working people in town and country. Regulations on private property. The right of inheritance.
2. Citizens were allowed to have personal property, subsidiary plots and pass them on by inheritance.
4. Spaceship.
5. Efficiency was low, since it was not the intensification of existing capacities, but the construction of thousands of new enterprises.
6. Uniform development of all sectors of the economy, not just heavy industry.
Task 6
Task 7
Prepare a class discussion on the topic “Were there alternative ways for the economic development of the USSR after the war?”. Make your own list of questions.
1. What was the essence of the alternative development of industry and agriculture from Stalin's course?
2. Economic program Malenkov.
3. Khrushchev's economic program.
Task 8
Based on the data below, explain the idea of increasing corn crops. Draw a conclusion about the consequences of the "corn campaign".
Growth of acreage under corn in 1955-1962.
1955 - 18 million hectares
1962 - 37 million hectares
The sown areas of corn were doubled.
Analyze the data and complete the task.
Growth rates of industrial production in the USSR in 1951-1965.
1951-1955 - 85%
1956-1960 - 64.3%
1961-1965 - 51%
Growth rates of agricultural production in the USSR in 1951-1965.
1951-1955 - 20.5%
1956-1960 - thirty%
1961-1965 - eleven%
Propose measures to prevent a fall in the rate of economic growth.
1. To carry out the intensification of existing capacities.
2. The money freed from the refusal to build new enterprises should be directed to improving the material base and science.
3. Develop light and food industries.
Theme of the lesson "Economy of the USSR in 1953-1964"
Learning goal: the study by students of the main directions of economic and social reforms 1953-1964
the formation of students' skills to work with the text of the textbook, historical documents, to draw generalizing conclusions
lesson equipment: a textbook on "the history of Russia in the XX - the beginning of the XXI century" for grade 9 "edited by A. A. Danilov, L. Kosulina, M. Yu. Brandt. (Paragraph 40, "The Economy of the USSR in 1953-1964")
teacher, introduction. Good afternoon, today we continue to study the topic "USSR in 1953-1964. The reign of Khrushchev" At that lesson, we got acquainted with the political system of society during this period, studied the struggle for power.
Questions for the first group to the point of the paragraph G. Malenkov's economic policy.
textbook text.
1. Malenkov's economic course. Text for the first group.
After Stalin's death, economic discussions in the country's leadership flared up with renewed vigor. In August 1953, G. Malenkov came up with a program of economic reforms, he proposed to shift the center of gravity to the development of light and food industries. as well as agriculture. Such an approach, according to Malenkov, was able to provide a significant improvement in the supply of goods and basic necessities to the population in 2-3 years.
He called the main tasks in the field of agriculture the increase in productivity and the strengthening of the personal interest of collective farmers. To this end, it was planned to significantly reduce
The norms of obligatory deliveries from the personal subsidiary plots of collective farmers, to halve, on average, the cash tax from the collective farm yard, and to completely write off agricultural tax debts. The sphere of trade was also subject to reorganization. However, with the removal of Malenkov from business, the reforms he proposed gradually ceased to operate.
From the report of N.S. Khrushchev at the 20th Congress of the CPSU in 1956.
Questions to the text of the textbook and to the document for the first group. (highlighted in lilac in the frame)
2. Agricultural policy N.S. Khrushchev. text for the second group.
Khrushchev intended to ensure the rise of agriculture by a significant increase in state purchase prices for collective farm products and a rapid expansion of sown areas. He put forward the idea of developing virgin and fallow lands.
The program of G. Malenkov focused on increasing productivity, the program of N.S. Khrushchev - to expand the area under crops. The first way is called intensive, the second - extensive.
In 1954, the development of virgin lands began. By the decision of the Central Committee to Kazakhstan and Western Siberia more than thirty thousand party workers and more than 120 thousand agricultural specialists were sent. During the first five years, the labor heroism of the Soviet people developed 42 million hectares of virgin and fallow lands.
Along with this, purchase prices for agricultural products were raised, debts of previous years were written off, and the government spending on the social development villages. One of the important decisions was the abolition of the tax on personal subsidiary plots and permission to increase the size of the farm itself by 5 times.
At the initiative of N. Khrushchev, the principle of planning from below was proclaimed and began to be introduced. Collective farms received the right to amend their charter, taking into account the specifics of local conditions. For the first time, pensions were introduced for collective farmers. they were given passports.
These measures contributed to the rise of agriculture. During 1953-1958, the increase in agricultural production amounted to 34% compared with the previous period. The village has not known such successes since the time of NEP.
Successes instilled in N. Khrushchev confidence in the power of administrative decisions. The rapid improvement in the welfare of the peasants gave rise to his fears of their possible "degeneration" into the kulaks. And the strengthening of the role of economic incentives objectively weakened the need for administrative interference in the affairs of the villagers.
This largely explains the fact that from the end of the 1950s, economic incentives began to be replaced by administrative coercion.
In 1959, the reorganization of MTS began. Collective farms, in order not to be left without equipment, were forced to buy it out for only one year, and at a high price. In this way, the state managed to compensate for almost all expenses in one year. previous years for the development of agriculture. A negative consequence of this event was also the loss of personnel of machine operators, previously concentrated in the MTS. Instead of moving to collective farms, many found work in district centers and cities.
In the same year, it was concluded that "personal subsidiary plots will gradually lose their significance," since it is more profitable for collective farmers to receive food from the collective farm. In essence, a new attack on subsidiary farming began. State bodies were instructed to buy up cattle from state farm workers in 2-3 years and recommend similar measures to collective farmers. The result of these measures was the aggravation of the food problem in the country.
Attempts to solve it with the help of the "corn epic" did not bring success either. From 1955 to 1962, the area under corn was doubled, sometimes at the expense of wheat and rye crops. The result turned out to be just the opposite of the efforts expended: there was a general decrease in the harvest of grain crops. The situation was aggravated by the crisis in the development of virgin and fallow lands in 1962-1963. associated not only with weather conditions, but also with an ill-conceived land use system that led to soil erosion.
The crisis in agriculture led to the first mass purchases of grain abroad in many years, which then became traditional and even more significant.
In June 1962, by decision of the government, the prices for meat and 25% for butter were "temporarily" increased by 30%. This caused mass discontent and even open speeches in the working environment. The most serious were the events in Novocherkassk, where troops and tanks were advanced against a demonstration of seven thousand workers, and there were numerous casualties. The media kept complete silence about this, but the echo of the Novocherkassk events swept across the country. The authority of N.S. Khrushchev began to fall among ordinary people.
The seven-year plan (1959-1965) for the development of agricultural production was a failure.
A. “Virgin lands are also connected with the name of Khrushchev. And she was wrong too. The development of virgin lands was carried out without business case. It was necessary not to raise virgin soil, but our central regions. Enormous funds have been invested in the development of fallow lands. Yes, the virgin land gave something, but I won’t put an exclamation mark here. With such investments here in Central Russia, we would have more bread, and cheaper. B. “The development of virgin lands began prematurely. Of course, this is nonsense. In this size - an adventure. I have never been against the development of virgin lands, although Khrushchev accused me of being the main opponent of virgin lands. But from the very beginning I was a supporter of the development of virgin lands on a limited scale, and not on such huge scales that we were forced to invest huge amounts of money, incur colossal expenses, instead of raising what was already ready in the inhabited areas ... I suggested investing this money in our Non-Black Earth, and gradually raise the virgin lands. |
Questions to the second group. (highlighted in lilac in the frame)
3. Industrial development. textbook text.
The rejection of G. Malenkov's course led to the fact that in the early 60s the production of means of production in the total volume of industrial output was no longer 70 (as in 1953), but 75%. The tilt in the development of the national economy has reached dangerous limits.
Mechanical engineering has developed at a particularly rapid pace, chemical industry, electric power industry (for 1950-1965 the volume of these productions increased 5 times). Group "B" enterprises developed much more slowly (over the same years, production volumes doubled here). In general, the medieval growth rate of industrial production in the country exceeded 10%. These indicators gave the country's leadership confidence that the achieved rates will not only be maintained, but also increased. The forecasts of Western experts were different, in their opinion, as the economic power of the USSR, as well as other countries, the pace of economic development will "fade".
The authorities considered scientific and technological progress to be one of the levers for accelerating industry. The most visible results in its use were achieved only in the military-industrial complex and some related areas.
In 1957, the USSR launched the world's first artificial Earth satellite. On April 2, 1961, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin opened the way to space for mankind. The fuel balance of the country has changed radically due to the use of oil and gas. The chemical industry developed at a powerful pace, widely mastering the production of artificial materials. In transport, steam locomotives began to be replaced by diesel locomotives and electric locomotives.
On the whole, however, industry continued to develop along the usual path: not by intensifying existing capacities, but by building thousands of new enterprises.
No less important direction of its economic policy Khrushchev considered the reform of the management of the national economy. In an effort to break down departmental barriers that hindered the development of production, in 1957 he began to create territorial councils of the national economy (sovnarkhozes) instead of sectoral ministries. Over three and a half enterprises were transferred from the all-Union to the republican administration, and the local Soviets received all the rights to produce and distribute local industry products. These measures, on the one hand, strengthened economic rights local authorities, but on the other hand, they hit hard on a unified technical and technological policy, and as a result, on ideas related to scientific and technological progress. Very soon it turned out that economic independence within the regions leads to the disruption of ties between them. A way out of this situation was found in the creation of new administrative structures - the republican Economic Councils and the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh). This was accompanied by a significant increase in the army of managers. But the pace of economic development has steadily declined.
Nevertheless, taken as a whole, the indicators of the country's development in the late 1950s and early 1960s allow us to conclude that by that time the building of the foundations of an industrial society in the USSR had been completed. Transition to the next stage of development while maintaining the old economic mechanism was impossible.
Questions for the third group.
Social politics. Text for the fourth group.
Despite all the costs and problems, the economic policy had a pronounced social character. in the mid-1950s, a program of measures was developed. aimed at improving the lives of the people. Salaries in industry were regularly raised. Growing incomes of collective farmers. Since 1964, they began to pay a pension. A law was adopted on pensions for workers and employees, according to which their size was doubled. and the retirement age has been reduced. All types of tuition fees have been abolished. The working week was reduced from 48 to 46 hours.
One of the most significant achievements in social policy was the start of a large-scale housing construction. The urban housing stock increased from 1953 to 1964 by 80%. This made it possible for 54 million people (every fourth inhabitant of the country) to celebrate housewarming. At the same time, the housing standard itself changed. Families increasingly received not rooms, but their own, separate housing. strengthened material base science, education, health, culture. Radio broadcasting covered the entire country for the first time. From 1953 to 1958 The number of televisions has increased from 200,000 to 3 million.
At the same time, at the turn of the 50-60s. as it gets worse economic situation there is a growing tendency to solve emerging problems at the expense of the workers. Tariff rates for production were reduced by almost a third, and food prices increased by 25-30%.
In the leadership of the country, the understanding of the need for deeper reforms in the economy with the use of methods of economic stimulation is becoming more and more clear.
Questions for the fourth group.
Teacher.
We got acquainted with the main directions of reforms in the country's economy. Evaluate the reform of economic management under Khrushchev. Show its positive aspects and negative sides? What were the contradictory and limited reforms?
After Stalin's death, economic discussions in the leadership of the USSR flared up with renewed vigor. The country needed to develop a new economic strategy.
In August 1953 G. M. Malenkov came up with a program of economic reforms. He suggested shifting the focus to the development of light and food industries, as well as agriculture. Such an approach, in his opinion, was able to provide a significant improvement in the supply of the population with essential goods in 2-3 years.
The chairman of the Council of Ministers called the increase in productivity and the strengthening of the personal interest of collective farmers the main tasks in the field of agriculture. To this end, it was planned to significantly reduce the norms of obligatory deliveries from the personal subsidiary plots of collective farmers, to halve, on average, the cash tax from the collective farm yard, and to completely write off agricultural tax debts. The sphere of trade was also subject to reorganization.
According to a contemporary, “the newspaper with this report in the village was read to the holes, and a simple poor peasant said:“ This one is for us.
From the report of N. S. Khrushchev at the XX Congress of the CPSU. 1956
There were "wise men" who began to oppose light industry heavy industry, assuring that the predominant development of heavy industry was necessary only at the early stages of the development of the Soviet economy, and now it remains only for us to speed up the development of light industry.
With the removal of Malenkov from business, the reforms he proposed gradually ceased to operate.
Khrushchev intended to ensure the rise of agriculture by a significant increase in state purchase prices for collective farm products and a rapid expansion of sown areas. He put forward the idea of developing virgin and fallow lands. Malenkov's program focused on increasing productivity, Khrushchev's program - on expanding the area under crops. The first way is called intensive, the second - extensive. Based on this information, give a definition of the concepts "intensive path of development", "extensive path of development".
In 1954, the development of virgin lands began. By decision of the Central Committee, more than 30,000 party workers and more than 120,000 agricultural specialists were sent to Kazakhstan and Western Siberia. During the first 5 years, the labor heroism of the Soviet people developed 42 million hectares of virgin and fallow lands.
Along with this, purchase prices for agricultural products were raised, debts of past years were written off, and government spending on the social development of the countryside was increased several times. One of the important decisions was the abolition of the tax on personal subsidiary plots and permission to increase the size of the farm itself by 5 times.
At the initiative of Khrushchev, the principle of planning from below was proclaimed and began to be introduced. Collective farms received the right to amend their charters, taking into account the specifics of local conditions. For the first time, pensions were introduced for collective farmers. They began to issue passports. These measures contributed to the rise of agriculture. For 1953-1958 the growth of agricultural production amounted to 34% compared with the previous five years. The countryside has not known such rates of development since the time of the New Economic Policy.
The successes gave Khrushchev confidence in the power of administrative decisions. The rapid improvement in the welfare of the peasants gave rise to his fear of their possible "degeneration" into the kulaks. And the strengthening of the role of economic incentives objectively weakened the need for administrative interference in the affairs of the villagers. This largely explains the fact that since the late 50s. economic incentives are beginning to be replaced by administrative coercion. In 1959, the reorganization of machine and tractor stations (MTS) began. Collective farms, in order not to be left without equipment, were forced to buy it out for only one year, and at a high price. In this way, in one year the state was able to compensate for almost all the expenses of previous years on the development of agriculture. A negative consequence of this event was also the loss of personnel of machine operators, previously concentrated in the MTS. Instead of moving to collective farms, many found work in district centers and cities.
In the same year, it was concluded that "personal part-time farming will gradually lose its significance," since it is more profitable for collective farmers to receive products from the collective farm. In essence, a new attack on subsidiary farms has begun. State bodies instructed to buy livestock from state farm workers in 2-3 years, similar measures were recommended for collective farms. The result was an aggravation of the food problem in the USSR.
Attempts to solve it with the help of the "corn epic" did not bring success either. From 1955 to 1962, the area under corn more than doubled, sometimes at the expense of a reduction in the planting of wheat and rye. The result turned out to be just the opposite of the efforts expended: there was a general decrease in the grain harvest. The situation was aggravated by the crisis in the development of virgin lands in 1962-1963, associated not only with weather conditions, but also with an ill-conceived land use system that led to soil erosion.
The crisis in agriculture led to the first mass purchases of grain abroad in many years, which later became permanent and even more significant. In June 1962, by decision of the government, the prices for meat and 25% for butter were “temporarily” increased by 30%. This caused mass discontent and even open speeches in the working environment. The most serious were the events in Novocherkassk, where troops and tanks were advanced against a demonstration of seven thousand workers, and there were numerous casualties. The media kept a complete silence about this, but the echo of the Novocherkassk events swept across the country. Khrushchev's authority among ordinary people began to fall.
The Seven Year Plan (1959-1965) for the development of agriculture was a failure.
The rejection of Malenkov's course led to the fact that in the early 60s. the production of means of production in the total volume of industrial output was no longer 70% (as in 1953), but 75%. The tilt in the development of the national economy has reached dangerous limits.
Mechanical engineering, the building materials industry, metalworking, chemistry, petrochemistry, and the electric power industry developed especially rapidly (during 1950-1965, their production volumes increased almost 5 times). Enterprisesgroup "B" developed much more slowly (over the same years, production volumes doubled here). In general, the average annual growth rate of industrial production in the USSR exceeded 10%. These indicators instilled confidence in the leadership of the CPSU that the rates achieved will not only be maintained, but even increased. The forecasts of Western experts were different: in their opinion, as the economic power of the USSR, like other countries, grows, the pace of economic development will “fade out”.
The authorities considered scientific and technological progress to be one of the levers for accelerating the development of industry. The most visible results in its use were achieved only in the military-industrial complex and some related areas. The most important result of the scientific and technological development of the country in these years was the creation of the world's first rocket and space complexes. In 1957, the USSR launched the world's first artificial Earth satellite. April 12, 1961 Yu. A. Gagarin opened the way to space for mankind.
The fuel balance of the country has changed radically due to the use of oil and gas. The chemical industry grew at a powerful pace, widely mastering the production of artificial materials. In transport, steam locomotives were replaced by diesel locomotives and electric locomotives.
On the whole, however, industry continued to develop along the usual path: not by intensifying existing capacities, but by building thousands of new enterprises.
Khrushchev considered the reform of the management of the national economy to be no less important direction in his economic policy. In an effort to break down departmental barriers that hindered the development of production, in 1957 he began to create territorial councils of the national economy (sovnarkhozes) instead of central sectoral ministries. Over 3,500 enterprises were transferred from all-Union to republican subordination, and local Soviets received all the rights to produce and distribute local industry products. These measures, on the one hand, strengthened the economic rights of local authorities, but on the other hand, they hit hard on a unified technical and technological policy, and, as a result, on plans to introduce the achievements of scientific and technological progress into production.
Very soon it turned out that the economic independence of enterprises within the regions leads to the disruption of ties between them. A way out of this situation was found in the creation of new administrative structures - republican economic councils and the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh). This was accompanied by a significant increase in the army of managers. But the pace of economic development has steadily declined. If in 1951-1955. industry grew by 85%, and agriculture - by 20.5%, then in 1956-1960. the corresponding figures were 64.3% and 30%. In 1961-1965. growth was 51% in industry and 11% in agriculture.
Nevertheless, taken as a whole indicators of the country's economic development in the late 50s - early 60s. allow us to conclude that by this time the construction of the foundations of an industrial society in the USSR had been completed. The transition to the next stage of development while maintaining the old economic mechanism was impossible.
Khrushchev's economic policy had a pronounced social orientation. In the mid 50s. a program of measures aimed at improving the lives of the population was developed. Salaries in industry were regularly raised (by 19% in 1961-1965 alone). Income of collective farmers grew, since 1964 they began to pay pensions. A law was adopted on pensions for workers and employees, according to which their size was doubled, and the retirement age was reduced. All types of tuition fees were abolished, the length of the working week was reduced from 48 to 46 hours.
One of the most significant achievements of the social policy of this period was the beginning of extensive housing construction. City housing stock from 1955 to 1964 increased by 80%. This made it possible to celebrate a housewarming party for 54 million people (every fourth inhabitant of the USSR). At the same time, the housing standard itself was changing: families increasingly received not rooms, but separate, albeit small, apartments. The material base of science, education, healthcare and culture has been strengthened. Radio broadcasting covered the entire country for the first time. From 1953 to 1958, the number of televisions increased from 200 thousand to 3 million. At the same time, at the turn of the 50-60s. as the economic situation worsened, the tendency to solve emerging problems at the expense of the workers became more and more pronounced. Tariff rates for production were reduced by almost a third, and prices for everyday products increased by 25-30%.
In the leadership of the country, the understanding of the need for a more radical reform of the economy with the use of methods of economic stimulation became more and more clear.
Malenkov's economic courseMove the center of gravity to
development of the lung
Food Industry
Reduce the mandatory
supplies from personal utility
collective farms
Halve the cash
collective farm tax
Write off debts
agricultural tax
