POD: 1 January 1961, when the USSR in OTL had a currency reform, exchanging 10 old rubles for 1 new one.
Krushchev, understanding that "it's the economy, stupid", makes several reforms to put the USSR on a track to socialist prosperity. The reforms are as follows:
1. "Standing pat" militarily. Defence of already socialist nations yes, military aid to guerillas elsewhere no. Castro is a special case, as he declared himself a Communist exactly on the date of the reform. I will assume the USSR knew of this in advance and therefore included him, but minus the nukes of OTL.
2. More emphasis on the production of consumer goods.
3. A "bottom-up" planning structure, asking local managers what they can produce rather than a top-down command system. State ownership is still retained.
4. A serious crackdown on the underground economy, including the death penalty.
5. Rationalisation of workplaces. No more doing things inefficiently just to keep everyone employed. People who lose their jobs can be used to run new enterprises.
6. More personal freedom. Religion to be tolerated as long as it doesn't threaten counterrevolution. Speaking out against the government would be legal and the government would take complaints into consideration in trying to improve itself (within the limits of Communist ideology). Sexual freedom for all, even gays and pedophiles.
7. The ruble would be allowed to float in the foreign exchange markets like any other currency.
8. Obvious economic discrepancies like bread costing less than the grain it is made of (causing farmers to feed bread to animals) are taken care of as soon as noticed.
9. Basic economic laws like supply and demand are accepted as being as real under socialism as under capitalism.
10. Anyone not desiring to build socialism can leave the country and would in fact be told not to let the door hit their ass on the way out.
How would the alt-USSR fare economically? Would this butterfly away Gorbachev? Maybe it would even butterfly away Brezhnev.... or would such a POD be more likely in 1964, after Brezhnev took over?