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Reassessing the Standard of Living in the Soviet Union: An Analysis Using Archival and Anthropometric Data

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  • Brainerd, Elizabeth

Abstract

This article uses anthropometric and archival data to reassess the standard of living in the Soviet Union. In the prewar period, the population was small in stature and sensitive to the political and economic upheavals experienced in the country. Significant improvements in child height, adult stature, and infant mortality were recorded from approximately 1945 to 1970. While this period of physical growth was followed by stagnation in heights, the physical growth record of the Soviet population compares favorably with that of other European countries at a similar level of development in this period.

Suggested Citation

  • Brainerd, Elizabeth, 2010. "Reassessing the Standard of Living in the Soviet Union: An Analysis Using Archival and Anthropometric Data," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 70(1), pages 83-117, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:70:y:2010:i:01:p:83-117_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ekaterina Zhuravskaya & Sergei Guriev & Andrei Markevich, 2024. "New Russian Economic History," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(1), pages 47-114, March.
    2. Mejía Cubillos, Javier, 2012. "Libertad y desempeño económico [Freedom and economic performance]," MPRA Paper 37939, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Olena Y. Nizalova & Maria Vyshnya, 2010. "Evaluation of the impact of the Mother and Infant Health Project in Ukraine," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(S1), pages 107-125, September.
    4. James Ng, 2018. "Labour migration in Indonesia and the health of children left behind," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-10, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Izdebski, Adam & Koloch, Grzegorz & Słoczyński, Tymon & Tycner, Marta, 2016. "On the use of palynological data in economic history: New methods and an application to agricultural output in Central Europe, 0–2000AD," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 17-39.
    6. James Ng, 2018. "Labour migration in Indonesia and the health of children left behind," WIDER Working Paper Series 010, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Vladimir V. Maltsev, 2023. "Decentralized response as a pandemic second‐best: The case of Russia," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 90(2), pages 291-316, October.
    8. Ilya B. Voskoboynikov, 2023. "Living Standards In The Ussr During The Interwar Period," HSE Working papers WP BRP 264/EC/2023, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    9. Elizabeth Brainerd, 2021. "Mortality in Russia Since the Fall of the Soviet Union," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 63(4), pages 557-576, December.
    10. Steckel, Richard H., 2009. "Heights and human welfare: Recent developments and new directions," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 1-23, January.
    11. Yamasaki, Junichi, 2020. "Time horizon of government and public goods investment: Evidence from Japan," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    12. Ethan J. Sharygin & Michel Guillot, 2013. "Ethnicity, russification and excess mortality in Kazakhstan," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 219-246.
    13. Cvrcek, Tomas, 2009. "Inequality and living standards under early communism: Anthropometric evidence from Czechoslovakia, 1946-1966," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 436-449, October.
    14. Petrik Runst & Steven Horwitz, 2015. "Alienation and rationality—The retreat of postwar socialism," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 28(2), pages 123-137, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • P23 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies - - - Factor and Product Markets; Industry Studies; Population
    • P36 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-

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