CONFERENCE ON SOVIET ECOMONY IN 1970: STUDIES IN SOVIET ECONOMIC GROWTH

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Conference on Soviet Economy in 1970:

Studies in Soviet Economic Growth

1. Date : Friday - Sunday, May 23 - 25, 1952

2. Place : Arden House, Harriman, N. ¥.

3. Sponsors : Joint Committee of Slavic Studies of the
Social Science Research Council and American Council of Learned
Societies.

4- Purpose : The following statement of purpose is from the
description of the project submitted to the sponsors:

The post-war years have seen a notable expansion in
the numbers of serious students of the Russian economy in
this country. Whereas before the war graduate concentration
in Soviet economics was almost unheard of, there are now a
number of major centers offering graduate training in this
field, and already there are a number of students of
advanced status.

The corps of wo r hers in this field has been augmented
also by the conversion of mature scholars from other
specialties .

The proposed Conference, it is believed, would
represent the first occasion when these scholars would be
able to assemble for any length of time for the serious
discussion of their specialty. Accordingly, the opportunity
to meet in this way should be of more than ordinary value
to the participants, particularly the younger scholars.

Needless to say, no detailed blueprint of the Soviet
economy in 1970 is anticipated. The Conference would focus
rather on the strategic factors in Russian economic growth,
and on the appraisal of their more important implications
for the long-run. But inventory of knowledge of this
sort should be illuminating from many standpoints, including
not the least Russian strength; and at the same time it
would serve to mark out for further research areas of
ignorance on a vital theme.

It is envisaged that the proceedings of the Conference
ultimately will be published.

V v a r

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5. Assumptions : It is felt that even at the price of some
discussion at cross purposes the participants should decide for
themselves the nature of the assumptions to be made regarding
domestic and international political and economic data underlying
their appraisals and forecasts. At the same time, presumably all
will agree that for the purposes of the Conference there is little
point in elaborating for the Soviet economy in 1970 the implications
of a general war taking place in the preceding interval; so this
particular eventuality might just as well be passed by. Furthermore,
the participants of course may wish to examine the implications of
various alternative sets of assumptions in varying contexts.

6. Organization : Authors of main papers are asked to submit
their essays to Professor Bergson by April 1, 1952 at the latest.
These papers will then be mimeographed and distributed to the
other participants.

At the conference itself, the authors of main papers should
summarize rather than read their essays. While there will be
designated discussants for each paper, it is hoped that other
participants will also join in the discussion. To this end, all
main papers will be distributed to all participants.

A length of 7500 words would seem desirable generally for
the main papers. The oral summaries should not exceed 30 minutes.
The designated discussants might think in terms of a 15 or 20
minute talk.

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Topics of main papers

1. Conditions of Soviet Economic Development

2. National Income and Product in 1970

lational Income ana^Product in i

MwGX nrUL(f-

I'oFThe Efficiency of -

CA — t ^

Invootment Decisi ons

3. ftiuipec tS 1 oF~the Efficiency
4 .. Population and Labor Force in 1970

5. Transportation Prospects

6. Resources and Industrial Potentialities

7. Trends in Industrial Labor Productivity

8. Soviet Industrial Production in 1970

9. Agricultural Production Prospects: Resources as a
Conditioning Factor

10. Agricultural Production Prospects: Organisation as a

Conditioning Factor

11. Agricultural Production in 1970

12. Prospects for Soviet Economic Relations with the Orbit

13. The Future of East-Uest Trade

N.B. The foregoing topics, of course, overlap in
varying degrees. From many standpoints, it is felt that this
is all to the good, and accordingly contributors should not
be unduly concerned to avoid aspects vhieh may be discussed
by others.

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TO: Members of Conference on Soviet Economy

FROM: Abram Bergson

SUBJECT: Title of Conference

In view of the concern expressed in various quarters,
including some members of the Conference, as to the possibility oi
misunderstanding concerning our aims, it has seemed advisable to
change the title of the Conference to the following: Soviet

Economic Growth: Conditions and Perspectives. 1 ' Au the same time,
where necessary, corresponding changes have been made m the titles
of individual papers, and the new titles are shown below.

As before, of course, the concern is primarily with the
long-term future. Also, insofar as it is found necessary in one or
another connection to think in terms of a horizon date, the year
1970 remains the one to consider.

Conference on

Soviet Economic Growth: Conditions and Perspectives

Topics of main papers

1. Conditions of Soviet Economic Development

2. National Income and Product

3. Capital Formation and Allocation as a Conditioning Factor

4. Population and Labor Force

5. Transportation Prospects

6. Resources and Industrial Potentialities

7. Trends in Industrial Labor Productivity

8. Industrial Production

9. Agricultural Production Prospects: Resources as a. Conditioning
Factor

10. Agricultural Production Prospects: Organisation as a Condition-
ing Factor

11. Agricultural Production

12. Prospects for Soviet Economic Relations with the Orbit

13. The Future of East-West Trade

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