Against Stagnation. Industrial Flexibility in State Socialism

How economically stagnant was state socialism? In the wake of 1989, this question has generated substantial research. While many scholars argue that state socialism declined due to a lack of ability to evolve and keep up with the West, in this panel James Nealy, Alina-Sandra Cucu, and Piotr Perkowski argue that there was a surprising degree of industrial flexibility in state socialist economies. This flexibility shows the deep economic entanglement of the Warsaw Pact with the capitalist world, rather than their isolation. Economic historian and policy analyst Yakov Feygin will offer comments. 

Featuring:

* James Nealy (University of Texas, San Antonio) 

* Alina-Sandra Cucu (Institute for Cultural Inquiry, Berlin)

* Piotr Perkowski (University of Gdansk)

Commentator: Yakov Feygin (Center for Public Enterprise) 

Chair: Olena Lyubchenko (York University)