The Making of Economic Policy in 1989 and 1990

Abstract

A prominent international economist and analyst of current affairs in the Soviet Union traces principal changes in the anatomy of economic policy from the summer of 1989 through the middle of September 1990. A sequel to the first authoritative Western report and analysis of Gorbachev's economic advisors published in 1987, the paper focuses on the role of institutions and the succession of commissions involving such leading policy makers as Abel Aganbegyan, Leonid Abalkin, Oleg Bogomolov, Stanislav Shatalin, Nikolay Petrakov, and others. Political and bureaucratic infighting at the top is discussed to facilitate insight into the currently worsening crisis. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: 027, 054, 124.