The Soviet Union

"Under communism, the power of the state is still being bolstered and the state is swelling up. The people are not growing lean, but not fat either, due to exorbitant demands made by the military on the resources of the state. In part also the rigidity of, and lack of incentives provided by centralized economic planning are stultifying growth and tending to impose quite painful choices on the Soviet leadership at a time when that leadership seems weak and uncertain ..."--Introduction.