ntries away from socialist ideology or goals, nor were they intended to cause such a move. Similarly, the changes introduced in the USSR by Gorbachev are being made within the existing socialist system of that country, and there is no intent to install a capitalist economic system in that country through perestroika the term used by the Soviets to describe the current economic, political, and social restructuring (Gorbachev, 1987). It would be naive to presume that perestroika was intended to throw the socialist system out of the USSR, or to assume that restructuring was intended to weaken the social and political system.
Lastly, in examining the contemporary economic developments in the Soviet Union, it must be borne in mind that, as most people in the western countries view communism as the supreme enemy, only failures of the socialist societies are generally recognized. In point of fact, these societies, the USSR in particular, have recorded successes of which they are proud (Gorbachev, 1987). Universal, free, and generally quality medical care, housing for all (albeit not the equivalent of that typical in the United States, but, nevertheless, far superior to that available to the significant number of Americans who are homeless), universal and free child daycare, and many other societal assets are credited by the Soviets to the success of the socialist system (Gorbachev, 1987). They are proud of these successes, and, while they are pursuing economic reform, they have no intention of dismantling the existing socialist system.
The prime impetus for the economic initiatives of Gorbachev was a dissatisfaction with the direction of economic performance. Economic growth in the Soviet Union had become stagnant. Consumer demands were not being met, and productivity was declining.
In the context of food supply, the population of the Soviet Union remained adequately fed (The World Bank [WB], 1988). While providin...