Abstract
In the 1980s, both socialist and capitalist states face the challenge to adapt their concepts of socio-economic development to the significant changes in political and economic conditions. Compared with the early 1970s, all these states are now confronted with new domestic and external conditions for continued social, economic, scientific and technological progress. The special aspects are:
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(a)
accelerated scientific and technological development helps to open new avenues for economic growth;
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(b)
the increments of economic and natural resources have diminished and energy costs have increased dramatically;
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(c)
in the light of new structures and price levels, and not least because of the changes noted above, all states are finding it increasingly difficult to export with economic benefit and to procure the necessary machinery, equipment and energy in international markets;
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(d)
finally it is impossible to overlook the fact that the western policies of building up armaments impose grave strains on the national economies of both socialist and capitalist states. Furthermore, the US-instigated policies of sanctions very much impair the opportunities for harnessing inter-systemic economic and scientific relations for adapting national economies to the new conditions of growth.
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References
Where not otherwise stated, all data in this paper come from the Statistical Yearbook of the German Democratic Republic and from the Law on the 1981–1985 5-year State Plan for the Development of the GDR’s National Economy (cf. Gesetzblatt der DDR, part one, no. 35, December 9th 1981 ). The author is grateful to A. Kleeberg for compiling and calculating statistical data (see especially the tables in the Statistical Appendix), but takes full responsibility for their exactness.
Cf. M. Engert, ‘Specialisation and Cooperation in Production between the GDR and the Soviet Union’, (in German), Einheit 11/1981, p. 1169.
Studies indicate great variations in the foreign currency revenue from exports of different branches. A report to the 10th Congress of the Socialist Unity Party notes critically that the GDR at present gains fair revenues by exporting primary products of high quality, but that this revenue is very low for products which do not reach international standards. (Cf. Bericht des Zentralkomitees der SED Berichterstatter: Genosse Erich Honecker, Dietz Verlag, Berlin 1981, pp. 53/54.)
Reference is again made to the shares that the GDR holds in the Soviet Union’s imports of different groups of products. In addition, account should be taken of the division of labour between the GDR and other European countries which in 1980 accounted for more than one quarter of the GDR’s trade with Czechoslovakia and Hungary. In some product groups this share is even higher. See also Table 3.6 which indicates that specialisation and cooperation in production, based on inter-state arrangements and contracts, is increasingly important in economic exchanges between the GDR, the Soviet Union and other European CMEA countries.
See Table 3.1, showing growth rates of main economic indicators achieved by the GDR during the 1970s and planned for 1981–1985.
In 1980, 27.4 per cent of the GDR’s foreign trade turnover was with capitalist industrial countries and 6.1 per cent with developing countries (cf. Statistical Yearbook of the GDR 1981, p. 234). For data on the development of trade turnover with individual countries, see Tables 3.4 and 3.5.
Table 3.2 shows how growth ratios between national income, industrial production, exports and imports, in 1976–1980, have changed in accordance with domestic economic performance and external economic conditions. This process of active adaptation has been continued in 1981.
Cf. Neues Deutschland October 6th 1979, p. 1.
Cf. Neues Deutschland December 11th 1981, p. 6.
Cf. Communique of the 35th CMEA Session, Neues Deutschland, July 7th 1981, p. 6.
See G. Kohlmey, Socialisation and Integration in Socialist Society (in German), Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1973, pp. 39 ff., as well as the same author’s earlier publications.
For current discussion on structural changes and economic integration among the CMEA countries, see: O.T. Bogomolow, Socialist Countries and International Division of Labour (in Russian), Nauka Publishers, Moscow 1980, p. 76 ff.;
W. Heinrichs, ‘Theoretical Problems of Structural Changes in Intensively Expanded Reproduction’ (in German), Wirtschaftswissenschaft 2/1981;
P. Sydow (ed.), Economic Growth of European CMEA Countries (in German), Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1981, see especially p. 28 ff., p. 135 ff..
Cf. G. Fröhlich, G. Kohlmey, P. Sydow, ‘Effectiveness and Internationalisation of Socialist Economies’, in Economic Effectiveness of Social Production in Advanced Socialism (in German), Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1980, p. 73 ff.
Integrated management of sciences, technology, production, and commercialisation (including exports and imports) within industrial combines helps to meet standards in international markets more consistently and effectively.
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© 1983 Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche (WIIW) (The Vienna Institute for Comparative Economic Studies)
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Sydow, P. (1983). Economic Growth, Cmea Integration and Economic Cooperation with Capitalist Countries. In: Saunders, C.T. (eds) Regional Integration in East and West. Vienna Institute for Comparative Economic Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06071-9_4
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