What you're saying is correct. My impression is, too, that they all started to decline somewhere in 1987-88. The critical observation is that before 1991 that decline is within normal fluctuations (on that charts that show 1984 and earlier). But after 1991 they "sky-rocketed", into the ground. My interpretation is "there had been certain recession until 1991, and the reforms of 1991 were meant (or advertised) to deal with it, but they turned the recession into a catastrophe".Originally Posted by TronDD
Not to mention that the prior recession is illuminating of Gorbi's perestroika.