Introduction

The predominant component of the Soviet system is the unlimited political power of the ruling summit. The intrinsic nature of the Soviet economy depends not only on this economy itself but also on the Soviet system as a whole. Although Soviet propaganda is generally notorious as the most boring in the world, one must recognize its capacity to elaborate a certain stereotyped mode of thinking adapted to the totalitarian system and capable of explaining social events or phenomena in light of the official attitude. In order to directly implement economic activity, Soviet economic entities need a certain economic independence from the Soviet state. The Soviet economy is efficient, however flabbergasting the assertion may appear from the viewpoint of communis opinio doctorum. Soviet sources concerning the economic problems of the USSR suffer from a substantial lack of terminological coordination in the area under discussion.