Thread: Russia: old system - new system

Originally Posted by Nerms

grim capitalism is a term Basil used. look back at one of his posts. I would think you would agree with his assertion..based on your posts.

Once again you've distorted my words. I said "a savage grin of capitalism", it's a widespread ideologeme.

Why?

Trololo.

Originally Posted by Nerms

Why?

YouTube - Epic Why Guy
Just reminded...

As a said before. 9 million excuses. Now its because i am a troll. My prediction you will continue to practice the capitalist institution for the foreseeable future.

Oh well its your country. If you like it the way it currently is with capitalism then that is fine with me. I was under the impression you didnt.

But most things that people wanted to buy were quite cheap, weren't they? As I remember hearing, the problem was not that people didn't have money but that some things that people wanted (fashionable clothes) were hard to get or not available.

Originally Posted by Hanna

But most things that people wanted to buy were quite cheap, weren't they? As I remember hearing, the problem was not that people didn't have money but that some things that people wanted (fashionable clothes) were hard to get or not available.

Yes. Generally so. In the market economy, when people have excess cash you'll have inflation on your hands, but this doesn't really work with planning economy because all prices are fixed. So, if you can't raise the prices and if you don't want to bankrupt the only option left for you is to create deficit. Of course this stimulates black markets.
Money was not as important in USSR as 'connections' with 'necessary people' who could 'get' you something you want in exchange for something they want. Such 'exchange of services' was very common in those days.

Food and services were usually very cheap. One year rent could be 60-70 roubles. So a family of two people with below average salary (say 150+150) would have had to spend only 20% of their shared one month's income to pay their YEAR rent. Many food products cost mere kopecks. Books (and people did read a lot) were also not expensive. BTW, newspapers were so cheap (often 0.01-0.03 roubles), that my Granny once bought me a few kilos of new newspapers to bring to school, when we had to bring some old paper for a paper recycling competition. ))))

On the other hand some things were ridiculously expensive (those that were considered unnecessary luxury by the state). For example the cheapest car cost around 3000 roubles, and a good one cost much more (more than 10000). The upside of this unbalance was that the state spent a great deal of money to develop a public transportation system, and you literally could get anywhere by public transport.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Books (and people did read a lot) were also not expensive.

Это смотря какие книги. Хорошие книги можно было купить, как правило, на черном рынке.В основном, интересовала тема культуры, к примеру, серия "Жизнь в искусстве", цены были умеренны: от 15 (Домье) до 30 (Рафаэль) рублей. Причём, 30, практически было не по карману. А на модные детективы, всяких Стругацких, Булгаковых и макулатурный "20 лет спустя" (один из первых макулатурных) даже и не замахивались.

Ну, и обменивали какие-то достанные по случаю книжки на нужные в книгобменах. Да и магазинные цены были не так уж и дешевы. Например, макулатурный "Три мушкетёра" (тираж 1.000.000) 1976 года стоил 1 р. 36 коп., тоненький Свифт, 1979 года (тираж 200.000) - 1 р. 80 коп., первый том с/с Стивенсона (библиотека "Огонёк"), 1981 года (тираж 600.000) - 2 р. 70 коп., первый том Томаса Манна, 1987 года (тираж 300.000) - 3 р. 90 коп.

Сравнивать с современным изобилием, как по произведениям, так и по оформлению и ценам, просто смешно.