The Economy That Worked Only on Paper | The Soviet Planning Illusion.

Описание: The Soviet Union achieved some of the fastest industrial growth in history — at least on paper. Steel output soared, factories multiplied, and official reports celebrated success. But behind the numbers was an economy struggling with shortages, inefficiency, and distorted information.

This documentary explores how the Soviet planned economy measured success through quotas rather than usefulness, why production targets encouraged waste, and how central planning failed to reflect real human needs. Drawing on the ideas of economists like Friedrich Hayek, János Kornai, and Alec Nove, the video explains why growth statistics did not translate into real prosperity.

From Stalin’s Five-Year Plans to the chronic shortages of the 1970s and the reforms of Perestroika, the Soviet economic system relied on reports, charts, and paper logic. As information moved through layers of bureaucracy, reality was gradually replaced by fiction — until the system could no longer sustain itself.

The fall of the Soviet Union was not caused by a single crash, but by decades of producing numbers instead of value. This story reveals a timeless lesson about economics, incentives, and why production alone does not guarantee prosperity.

Disclaimer:
“This content is for educational and informational purposes only. All historical interpretations are based on available sources and may simplify complex events.”