logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
17m 16s

The Economy of the Soviet Union

Economics Explained
About this episode

The Soviet Union is one of the most historically significant economies to understand, not only because it was the home to some of the most controversial economic practices ever, not only because it was a nation that altered world politics for the latter half of the entire twentieth century, or because it was home to one of the largest and most rapid economic declines in modern history, no no, all of that stuff is important and we will explore it, but more important than all of that is that even today, almost 30 years after the fall of the soviet union, the lessons of the nation and its economy are having lasting implications on the world today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Aug 11
Why do We Still Need to Work?
A century ago, economist John Maynard Keynes confidently predicted that by 2030, we would only be working 15 hours a week. Yet, here we are—working harder than ever! While technology has dramatically boosted productivity, our work hours remain largely unchanged, and the prevalenc ... Show More
15m 56s
Aug 5
Do We Still Need Central Banks?
Almost every nation relies on a central bank, but the US is buzzing with talk of scrapping the Fed—the globe’s mightiest financial force! From its 1694 origins to battling today’s debt and inequality crises, we break down why central banks are crucial and what chaos could unfold ... Show More
18m 39s
Jul 21
Iran's Economic Dilemma
Iran boasts vast oil reserves, a strategic trading position, and a skilled workforce; however, sanctions and internal issues hinder its progress. From black-market oil to power outages, discover why this energy giant struggles to thrive. Can it break free from its economic troubl ... Show More
16 m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Between Market and Plan: the Soviet Union in the Era of the NEP
Donald, Christian, and Connor sit down to discuss the political economic conditions of the Soviet Union during the period of the New Economic Policy. Over the course of the episode, they cover War Communism, the intellectual currents and debates within the Party, the importance o ... Show More
3h 2m
Nov 2023
Common Sense Economics
How much will ignorance in economics cost you? As taxpayers and entrepreneurs, are you prioritizing your knowledge of the economy? In this episode, Howard Yaruss joins Tom Wheelwright in exploring how economics is the biggest impact on business, how financial common sense was los ... Show More
41m 36s
Dec 2023
Bonus: The Chinese Economy Is A Lie
It's no secret that China's economy has been growing at a remarkable rate over the past few decades, leading many to believe that it's on track to become the world's largest economy. However, recent revelations and analysis have shown that the Chinese economy – or at least, the w ... Show More
35m 47s
Jun 2023
Le point sur l'économie mondiale en 2023 ?
Les questions économiques sont au carrefour de toutes les grandes problématiques contemporaines nationales et internationales comme elles sont au cœur de l’actualité. Or, pour le quidam comme pour le juriste, il existe une réelle complexité des mécanismes et des notions qui donne ... Show More
32m 51s
Jan 2000
Economic Rights
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss economic rights. Is democracy the truest conduit of capitalism, or do the forces that make us rich run counter to the democratic institutions that safeguard our rights? The economist Milton Friedman once said, “If freedom weren’t so economically ef ... Show More
27m 41s
Jan 2021
The Pandemic Crisis and the Policy Reaction
In most decades, there are dramatic events that interrupt the course of history and the last twenty years have seen at least three obvious examples of this. However, more often than not, it is the reaction, in public attitudes and policy, rather than the event itself, that shapes ... Show More
7m 24s
Jun 2021
Capitalism: What Is It?
What do we mean when we talk about capitalism? Our economic system might seem inevitable, but it's a construction project hundreds of years in the making and no part of it is natural or left to chance. This week, we kick off our series on the past, present and future of capitalis ... Show More
56m 53s
Jan 2024
Brevan Howard's Top Economist Sees Three Huge Macro Turning Points Under Way
Right now, there's a lot of hope and optimism that the US economy is on a path towards a soft landing. Nonetheless, there are aspects of the current landscape that are unsettling. Inflation has come down, but there's significant debate as to why and how sustainable that move is. ... Show More
51m 16s
Dec 2023
The Soviet economy: how it worked and how it didn't
The Soviet Union stands out in history as the first time a workers' state began the task of planning the economy. In this talk, Adam Booth uncovers the dynamics and laws of the Soviet economy, explaining the objective forces which propelled the policies of the Bolsheviks, and lat ... Show More
40m 27s