The Machist philosopher-economist of Gosplan who proposed a genetic-teleological planning synthesis
Under OGPU interrogation (1930), he denied guilt, declaring that "theoretical discussion of all questions of politics and economics cannot be forbidden to any Soviet citizen, whatever their political biography."
Philosopher, economist, translator. Co-produced the first complete Russian translation of Marx's Capital (1907–1909) and as a leading Machist openly rebutted Lenin's Materialism and Empirio-Criticism. From 1921 at Gosplan he and Groman developed a genetic-teleological planning methodology grounded in Bogdanov's tektology, and he first proposed a 15-year General Plan. Arrested 1930, sentenced to five years; returned to Moscow 1935 to translate, died of pneumonia 1939. Rehabilitated 1990.
Career timeline
1896–1904Joined RSDLP; studied at Moscow University (expelled) and Berlin University philosophy; arrested and exiled twice
1904–1907Bolshevik; delegate to 4th RSDLP Congress; editorial board of central organ Party News
1907–1909First complete Russian Capital (3 vols), co-translated with Skvortsov-Stepanov
1908–1911Leading Machist voice; published essays on realist worldview; publicly rebutted Lenin's critique
1917Editor of Novaya Zhizn; co-founder and ideologist of RSDLP (Internationalists); left RSDLP in summer
1921–1927Gosplan: deputy chair of economic-statistical section (1924), chair of labor-culture section and presidium member (1927)
1926–1929With Groman, genetic-teleological planning synthesis; differential equation for industrial growth; first 15-year General Plan proposal
1930–1935Stalin's public condemnation, then arrested in 'Union Bureau of Mensheviks' case; 5 years; released early 1932, exiled
1935–1939Returned to Moscow; translated Eckermann and Montaigne; died of pneumonia 1939, rehabilitated 1990
The agrarian economist who uncovered the moral logic of peasant economy
In Essays on the Theory of Labor Economy (1912-1913) he wrote: "Every labour economy has a limit to its output, which is determined by the proportion between the annual labour and the degree of satisfaction of the needs of the farming family."
Russian and Soviet agrarian economist, born in Moscow on 17 (29) January 1888 and killed on 3 October 1937 at Alma-Ata, who founded the theory of the labor-consumer balance of the peasant family farm. His Essays on the Theory of Labor Economy (1912-1913) argued that the peasant family farm works for a living rather than for profit, and read the degree of its self-exploitation as set by consumption needs against the drudgery of labor. Attribution of the term 'moral economy' to him comes from Russian-language biography, while English-language scholarship usually credits the concept to E. P. Thompson. Criticized from 1926 as petty-bourgeois and anti-Marxist, he was arrested in July 1930 in the fabricated 'Toiling Peasant Party' case, sentenced to five years, and, after his exile was extended in 1935, was shot on 3 October 1937.
Career timeline
1906–1911Studied at Moscow Agricultural Institute, published first works on Italian and Belgian agricultural cooperation
1912–1915Published Essays on the Theory of Labor Economy, appointed docent and adjunct professor at Petrovskaya Academy
1915–1919Co-founded Central Flax Growers Cooperative (Lnyotsentr), elected to Council of All-Russian Cooperative Congress
1917Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Provisional Government, member of Pre-Parliament, drafted radical agrarian reform program
1919–1930Founding director of Institute of Agricultural Economics, full professor at Timiryazev Academy — systematized peasant economy and cooperative theory
1921–1923Member of Narkomzem collegium and representative to Gosplan
1930–1935Arrested in fabricated 'Toiling Peasant Party' case, sentenced to five years, exiled to Alma-Ata
1937Rearrested in Alma-Ata, shot same day — fully rehabilitated in 1987
