¹Department of Economics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. E-mail: ericsonr@mail.ecu.edu

¹This paper was prepared for, and presented at the ACES panel 'Pioneers of Comparative Economics' on 8 January 2005, during the ASSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. I am indebted to Michael Keren, Gary Kruger, and Herb Levine for insightful comments and suggestions. Of course, all errors and distortions remain my sole responsibility.

Abstract

This essay surveys the seminal contribution of Gregory Grossman to comparative economics contained in his analysis of the Soviet economic system. The paper focusses on his theory of the 'command economy,' its nature and logic, and its inherent weaknesses, which spawned the 'second economy,' waves of futile 'reforms,' and sowed the seeds of that system's collapse.