Thanks to Hari for collecting this data. To discuss all this information properly would require a lot of work, which I don't have time for at present. But I will make a few brief comments on selected issues:
1. Economic inequality Figure 8b (Top 1% income share in Russia, 1905-2015) gives some indication of the extent of economic inequality. It has limitations, because it does not deal with non-monetary aspects of inequality. Nevertheless I will make an attempt at interpreting the data. The graph shows: A dramatic fall in inequality between 1905 and 1927, which I assume is a result of the 1917 revolution; A small increase in inequality between 1927 and 1956. During most of this period Stalin was in charge. I would interpret the increased inequality as a result of the bureaucratic degeneration of the Soviet state under Stalin; A small decrease in inequality between 1956 and about 1980. I interpret this as a result of concessions to the working class by the bureaucracy following Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin; A small increase in inequality between 1980 and 1991, due to limited market reforms; A big increase in inequality after 1991, due to full-scale restoration of capitalism. 2. Death rate Figure 1 (Crude death rate, 1890-1956) shows how the death rate fluctuated from year to year. The long term trend is downward, but there are periods when the death rate goes up markedly. There 3 main peaks. The first peak corresponds to the First World War, and the civil war plus foreign military intervention that followed. The third peak corresponds to the Second World War. In between these two is a peak in the 1930s, resulting from forced collectivisation and massive repression. In my view Stalin is to blame for these deaths. 3. Infant mortality Hari says that infant mortality rates "rose progressively over the Khrushchev years". But he then quotes statistics from the Brezhnev era. (Khrushchev was removed from office in 1964) Table 3 shows infant mortality rates in 1970, 1972 and 1974. Deaths per 1,000 live births increased from 24.4 in 1970 to 25.7 in 1972 and 27.7 in 1974. I don't know why this increase occurred. Perhaps some people on this list who have medical knowledge or access to relevant sources could comment. My point is that, if a political leader is to blame, it is more likely to be Brezhnev than Khrushchev. Chris Slee - ________________________________ From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of hari kumar <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, 14 March 2024 9:13 AM To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [marxmail] "Games of Khrushchev and the boys" Hello Marv: I have been looking over what I believe are some of the relevant data to this discussion. I did not want any appearance left, that I am in agreement with where the discussion drifted to, after the initial comments. I have not finished, in especial I should add - I have not gone over the Albert Szymanski data suggested by Chris Slee as being relevant. But what I have thus far been able to look at, I am satisfied to share at this point. For me the health data towards the end is pretty compelling. Naturally opinions may differ. Anyway - It will be finished in due course. Thank you for raising the issues, I think they are important - and differences in opinions need to be placed on firm ground. At the stage of final completion, it will be able to be more formally published on a formal web-blog etc. In the interim it is in an incomplete - but viewable state. I believe it should be viewable via the google-doc site here. I would naturally prefer it that it not be widely distributed as of yet. Not that I disown any of it unless shown to be incorrect, but it doe snot feel right to widely distribute until the final items are placed. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HEf1xbKFGsX7EXemjvWj9wknkoSDvUe_5wuLM2PJa5Y/edit?usp=sharing Cheers H -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#29467): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/29467 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/104795089/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
