In:
Revue d’études comparatives Est-Ouest, PERSEE Program, Vol. 22, No. 4 ( 1991), p. 5-20
Abstract:
The problem of evaluating the Soviet military effort, 1989-1990. Since estimating Soviet military expenditure is, as we all know, a difficult art, the author himself, in his conclusion, states that his article raises more questions then it answers. He does, however, endeavour to clear the ground, and to define the real problems. He shows the futility of direct comparison of American and Soviet GNP, and the respective proportions of military expenditure in the GNP, and reminds the reader that the idea of military expenditure can be understood in either a limited sense (expenditure exclusively relating to the military) or in a wider sense (global military expenditure). There is no adequate method of expressing the military potential of a country by a single index. By the same token, the idea of parity between military powers has little relevance. Certain items of expenditure are not comparable in the USA and the USSR. Annual expenditure is always compared, when what should be accounted for are outgoings in previous years, not forgetting the problems of currency convertibility and differences in price systems, etc. Nevertheless, the author is prepared to venture an estimate, in figures whose approximate nature he is careful to stress. He thinks that expenditure on arms production fell in 1989-1990, touches upon the problems of converting the arms industry to civil industry, the costs and the speed involved, and ends with a summary table, qualified with many reservations. He estimates that total military expenditure, in 1989, was in no way less then 200 billion roubles, and that its share in the GNP exceeded (? greatly) 20 %. Of these 200 billion roubles, arms and military supplies (including R & D and investments) amounted to at least 160 billion, the remaining 40 billion being used for upkeep, instruction and health care of personnel, pensions, construction for military purposes, information, transport, etc.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0338-0599
DOI:
10.3406/receo.1991.1522
Language:
French
Publisher:
PERSEE Program
Publication Date:
1991
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2375315-8
detail.hit.zdb_id:
193017-5
SSG:
8
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