Crisis in the Kremlin - Our 1982 USSR

[ruffino]

I firmly support @5je1ryj 's plan, I consider it the best way to act and the one that would benefit us the most

 

[dunHozzie]

That's political suicide and honestly suicide for USSR as well.

You're not wrong, but frankly the USSR doesn't have economic power to do what needs to be done. It's a sunken cost fallacy. So I'll update my statement pick some of the good ideas you and @5je1ryj have, but only the ones that er feasible with a closed wallet or near so:

COMECON reforms:

• Decrease or eliminate barriers for trade as much as possible (it will give COMECON countries extra currency and add incentive for specialization as well as focusing on consumer goods and will decrease shortages in the Union)

Potentially deadly for our own reform if not handled well. OTL the USSR supplied resources, the pact finished goods if i understood correctly. That might compete with our own nascent industry if unchecked.

• Deregulate prices on goods procured from trade(will increase incentives for trade and create some competition)

I'm trying to find the link, but didnt they try that with salt and it failed spectacularly? Regardless, salaries will not move, so will be tricky. Plus smells like capitalism.

• Create/expand(I think one already exists, but I am not sure) a student exchange program with a focus on USSR as the target for these exchanges and top students (secure the elites and cultivate eastern block friendships)

Agreed

• Establish a series of consumer standards for trade goods and agencies responsible for their enforcement(maker sure that they are staffed by members of each countries), it will ensure that the prices are not the only thing countries can compete on.

Agreed, but expensive and at risk of abuse

• Create a standardized system of logos which will represent the origin of any given product and make these logos mandatory for exporters (more incentives to focus on quality for the exporter).

Agreed

• Establish as many common institutions across the newly created market as possible to disincentivize the dissolution of COMECON.

Agreed

• Streamline tourism

Fine

• > Expand sport related Championships within the union

Agreed, without doping and child abuse

• Attempt to restructure the debt of all member nations

If possible, but not easy & maybe risky

• Create a COMECON statistic office only for review by the different governments, as accurate as possible (to prevent confusion regarding the actual reality)

Agreed, but expensive and needs lots of checks - corruption and the black market are killing

The rest will be of the category nice to have:

• Change the railroad gauge of the European nations to USSR standard(claim strategic necessity for mobilization purposes)

$$$ love it but not feasible

• Establish a common currency for the COMECON tied to Ruble

Undecided, it worked for the EU, but not sure if it works for the pact. The economic difference between the pact is much larger, USSR alone was 65% of the pact power.

• Create a unified banking system

Agreed, priority

• Create methods for investments by different countries into other nations industries

not sure, but agreed

• Set up a minimum standards for governance and average citizens quality of life tied to subventions and penalties

Agreed, but how to enforce?

• Try to redistribute the defence spendings across the different countries

Agreed

• Attempt to create some pan COMECON infrastructure projects which will benefit all nations (highways, railroads, canals) funded by all nations (mostly by USSR)

$$$ not sure if they will deliver fast enough when we're reforming. Great long term plan though

• Create a unified electrical grid to ease trading and prevent burnouts of blackouts in any given nation

$$, but good idea nonetheless

 

[Beaux Arts & Crafts]

I vote for @5je1ryj plan.

• Decrease or eliminate barriers for trade as much as possible (it will give COMECON countries extra currency and add incentive for specialization as well as focusing on consumer goods and will decrease shortages in the Union)
• Deregulate prices on goods procured from trade(will increase incentives for trade and create some competition)
• Create/expand(I think one already exists, but I am not sure) a student exchange program with a focus on USSR as the target for these exchanges and top students (secure the elites and cultivate eastern block friendships)
• Establish a series of consumer standards for trade goods and agencies responsible for their enforcement(maker sure that they are staffed by members of each countries), it will ensure that the prices are not the only thing countries can compete on.
• Create a standardized system of logos which will represent the origin of any given product and make these logos mandatory for exporters (more incentives to focus on quality for the exporter).
• Establish as many common institutions across the newly created market as possible to disincentivize the dissolution of COMECON.
• Streamline tourism
• Expand sport related Championships within the union
• Attempt to restructure the debt of all member nations
• Create a COMECON statistic office only for review by the different governments, as accurate as possible (to prevent confusion regarding the actual reality)

The rest will be of the category nice to have:

• Change the railroad gauge of the European nations to USSR standard(claim strategic necessity for mobilization purposes)
• Establish a common currency for the COMECON tired to Ruble
• Create a unified banking system
• Create methods for investments by different countries into other nations industries
• Set up a minimum standards for governance and average citizens quality of life tied to subventions and penalties
• Try to redistribute the defence spendings across the different countries
• Attempt to create some pan COMECON infrastructure projects which will benefit all nations (highways, railroads, canals) funded by all nations (mostly by USSR)
• Create a unified electrical grid to ease trading and prevent burnouts of blackouts in any given nati

yeah what @5je1ryj said!
also crackpot idea but i think the soviet union should also try to bring back OGAS just for the pure alt hist scenario of "fully automated luxury communism"

 

[Nova 360]

I am in support of the plan proposed by @5je1ryj

 

[traveller76]

I am in support of the plan proposed by @5je1ryj

 

[22000 Kevin]

I will also support comrade @5je1ryj plan.

 

[Red Angel]

Same here for @5je1ryj's plan.

 

[TheImperialTheorist]

Ditto for @5je1ryj

 

[Dude-a-Buck]

I vote for @5je1ryj's plan.

 

[seraphim74]

All those ideas seem interesting from economical POV, but many COMECON /WP countries might be highly unhappy with them. I can easily imagine rumours among their popularion that the common currency, unified banking system, common institutions etc. are in fact first steps to full incorporation into the USSR. And that will be unacceptable both for ruling elites (perhaps except Bulgaria) and population. Poland could explode, e.g. And sabotage of new policies on every level could happen.
Such reforms will have to be presented very carefully by state propaganda. Problem is that in 1980s the people of the socialist block were becoming more and more distrustful towards the official news agencies, press and tv. It will not be easy to convince the Poles or the East Germans or the Czechs that their countries will not become next Soviet republics.

 

[aurek theserian]

Abolish it. Unless significant economic change hits the states, they are a drain on the Soviet Economy. Given the rebellious nature of most of the populations, investing for long term is a roll of the dice.

Seriously, cut them loose. Edit: only keep the Soviet bases. Funded by them. In turn, allow free elections.

and while we are at it we can nuke the nation and offer regan a surender and reacharound, that honestly may be less disasterus

in policy is sucond comrad 5je1ryj plan

also crackpot idea but i think the soviet union should also try to bring back OGAS just for the pure alt hist scenario of "fully automated luxury communism"

seconded

 

[Lylithix]

I firmly support the plans of comrade @5je1ryj .

 

[seraphim74]

Regarding my post above.
Perhaps all those changes can be presented by propaganda as a way to give other states MORE voice and influence in the COMECON instead of making it more or less dictate of the USSR. It would help if it was true, BTW. Publish new treaties, so anyone could see that non-Soviet states indeed have more to say. Make new common institutions to be sometimes led NOT by the Soviets, make some spectacular gestures and investments in the name of the socialist broterhood, open joint scientific programs etc. Of course not at the cost of the Soviet economy. But honestly, the Soviets might be pleasantly surprised by some of the ideas, technologies and solutions presented by their satelites. They just have to be convinced that yes, their ideas will be heard, there will be no negative consequences for people proposing them even if an idea is rejected, but there will be attractive rewards if an idea is actually accepted, possibly even for whole COMECON. And make the Soviets believe it too (IIRC the Soviets suffered from the "not invented here" syndrom as far as their satelites were concerned).
It still will not be easy. The non-Soviet heads of COMECON institutions could be seen as simple figureheads, while the true decisions are still made by Moscow (and TBF, many of them will be), regardless of what the treaties say. Joint scientific programs can be seen as brain drain. The more the official press will deny it, the more the people will believe it. The thing is in 1980s the people of COMECON countries generally do not trust their governments.
But if the changes are introduced and they work, the standard of living significantly goes up, the oppression goes down and there is no incorporation into the USSR with time COMECON people might fully accept them.

 

[panpiotr]

All those ideas seem interesting from economical POV, but many COMECON /WP countries might be highly unhappy with them. I can easily imagine rumours among their popularion that the common currency, unified banking system, common institutions etc. are in fact first steps to full incorporation into the USSR. And that will be unacceptable both for ruling elites (perhaps except Bulgaria) and population. Poland could explode, e.g. And sabotage of new policies on every level could happen.
Such reforms will have to be presented very carefully by state propaganda. Problem is that in 1980s the people of the socialist block were becoming more and more distrustful towards the official news agencies, press and tv. It will not be easy to convince the Poles or the East Germans or the Czechs that their countries will not become next Soviet republics.

Your correct, thats why they will be introduced step by step, and more controversial from perspective of our puppets would be postponed for now.

 

[panpiotr]

Btw, next update will be later today, or tomorrow for you in the US, cant tell whats the time difference between Central Europe and the USA

 

[Red Angel]

Honestly, creating a sort of recycling program/policy towards older military/civilian equipment (at least those that's not being sold) so we don't use up all of our resources.

 

[panpiotr]

Also my comment on to what extent our reforms are introduced in our eastern European Satellites:
Hungary/Czechoslovakia: 100%
Poland:75%
East Germany: 60%
Romania: 10%

 

[seraphim74]

Your correct, thats why they will be introduced step by step, and more controversial from perspective of our puppets would be postponed for now.

The ones that would allow to better people's lives should go first (like reduction of military spending and using the money and production for consumption goods, appartments entertainment etc.). With higher standard of living the satelites (especially Poland) will be more willing to accept other changes,

Also my comment on to what extent our reforms are introduced in our eastern European Satellites:
Hungary/Czechoslovakia: 100%
Poland:75%
East Germany: 60%
Romania: 10%

And Bulgaria?

 

[panpiotr]

The ones that would allow to better people's lives should go first (like reduction of military spending and using the money and production for consumption goods, appartments entertainment etc.). With higher standard of living the satelites (especially Poland) will be more willing to accept other changes,

And Bulgaria?

Yeah forgot Bulgaria - 100%

 

[Kriss]

All those ideas seem interesting from economical POV, but many COMECON /WP countries might be highly unhappy with them. I can easily imagine rumours among their popularion that the common currency, unified banking system, common institutions etc. are in fact first steps to full incorporation into the USSR. And that will be unacceptable both for ruling elites (perhaps except Bulgaria) and population. Poland could explode, e.g. And sabotage of new policies on every level could happen.
Such reforms will have to be presented very carefully by state propaganda. Problem is that in 1980s the people of the socialist block were becoming more and more distrustful towards the official news agencies, press and tv. It will not be easy to convince the Poles or the East Germans or the Czechs that their countries will not become next Soviet republics.

Generally plan is divided in must have and nice to have. Those under must have aren't to sensitive to be accepted by our satellites and can be pushed through by USSR with minimal resistance.

Those nice to have are more of a long-term project for COMECON .

Some like redistribution of defense spending shouldn't find to much resistance, those like Railway gouges are matter of finances and must have.

Others are generally in categories of politically sensitive/will need time to implement once things get better.