Abstract
PROF. M. POLANYI'S article on “U.S.S.R. Economics”, originally printed in “The Manchester School”, has now been republished by the Manchester University Press in pamphlet form. This article, which is based on the study of official documents and on observations made by the author during numerous visits to Soviet Russia, gives an interesting account of recent trends besides providing a sketch of the development of the Soviet economy. In dealing with the economic background, Prof. Polanyi points out that the 165 million inhabitants of the U.S.S.R. are sharply divided into a rural and urban population. Of the 40 millions living in the towns, the vast majority are Government employees. They form the basis of its power and are engaged in administration, banking, trade, industry, the postal, tramway and railway services, teaching, health protection, journalism, science and art. About 125 millions live in villages, and of these about 10 millions are State-paid workers, and their dependants are employed on State-farms or in forestry or fishing.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Population and Production in the U.S.S.R.. Nature 137, 977–978 (1936). https://doi.org/10.1038/137977c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/137977c0