Income Inequality Under Soviet Socialism

Discussion centers on the extent to which income inequality exists in the USSR and how it compares in that regard with mixed economy countries of the West. Although there are many gaps in the data, much is known or can be surmised about the Russian situation. Particular attention is paid to: 1. the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic literature 1984-09, Vol.22 (3), p.1052-1099
Main Author: Bergson, Abram
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Collective farms
Consumer goods
Direct taxes
Earned income
Economic models
Household income
Households
Income
Income distribution
Income inequality
Labor market
Ratios
Socialism
Statistical analysis
Wage differential
Wage earners
Wages
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Discussion centers on the extent to which income inequality exists in the USSR and how it compares in that regard with mixed economy countries of the West. Although there are many gaps in the data, much is known or can be surmised about the Russian situation. Particular attention is paid to: 1. the nature of the consumers' goods market, 2. the nature and effects of central planning, 3. the redistribution of income through transfers, and 4. the rise of a new class of high-income people. Household income in the USSR consists mainly of wages and salaries paid employees of government enterprises and institutions. In the 7th decade since the Russian Revolution, Soviet socialism manifests a marked income inequality and social strata. Income inequality has varied over the last 2 decades, but it appears to have fallen within the range delineated by corresponding measures for Western countries at various dates. While there is a class of workers who earn high incomes and are generally favored by discriminatory distribution arrangements, the high incomes are not perpetuated on any scale through inheritance.
ISSN:0022-0515
2328-8175