Economic Experiment (1983)
경제 실험 (1983년)
A large-scale economic experiment launched by a joint decree of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers on July 14, 1983. It expanded the planning and managerial rights of industrial enterprises, introduced partial khozraschyot (self-financing), and reduced the number of mandatory central plan indicators. Originating in Yuri Andropov's instruction to Mikhail Gorbachev and Nikolai Ryzhkov to prepare economic reform proposals, the experiment covered roughly 700 enterprises under two all-Union and three republican industrial ministries, taking effect in January 1984. It was the direct predecessor to perestroika's early enterprise reforms.
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- Wikipedia (RU) July 14, 1983 decree launching the large-scale economic experiment; August 1, 1983 creation of the Special Commission to guide it.
- Wikipedia (RU) Andropov tasked Gorbachev and Ryzhkov with economic reform proposals in early 1983; experiment covered selected industries and large enterprises across several republics; introduced profit-dependent wages, enterprise price-setting, and product development rights; described as an expanded version of khozraschyot.
- Wikipedia (EN) Andropov promoted 'mild economic experiments similar to those associated with Kosygin's initiatives'; 1982 saw worst economic performance with near-zero GDP growth.
- vas-s-al.livejournal.com Сигиневич А.В., 'Экономический эксперимент в промышленности: Результаты, проблемы' (1986): confirms experiment ran from January 1, 1984, launched at Andropov's initiative, expanded under Gorbachev.
- time.com Time magazine (1985): the 'Five Ministries program, which took effect in January 1984' covered 2,300 factories, gave managers latitude in setting goals and introducing new technology.