An economic comparison: the Soviet Union, 1917-1937 and Communist China, 1949-1962

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to compare the progress of Communist China and the U.S.S.R. from the time of the communist take-overs to the end of their Second Flve-Year Plans. For China this period Includes the years from 1949-1962, for the U.S.S.R., 1917-1937. The emphasis is on the Chinese economy. The Chinese attempt to industrialize is, of course, the more recent attempt and is today more significant in terms of growth strategy for the other underdeveloped nations of the world. Thus since the Chinese experience is more recent and more relevant to today's underdeveloped areas, this segment of the paper draws the most attention.