... growth rate. Shops were calculated to be lacking 243 out 276 basic consumer items and there was a chronic shortage of 1000 items out of 1200 which would be on a model shopping list. There was a static farm output and high levels of inflation. (31) Therefore it can be seen that communism was an economic disaster. Khrushchev's remark again can be used to ... role of the Politburo. Piece by piece Gorbachev was chipping away at the old elite's confidence and beliefs. The fact that Gorbachev was gaining support both from the public at home and abroad, further eroded their confidence. When th...

• Word Count: 5545
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... growth rate. Shops were calculated to be lacking 243 out 276 basic consumer items and there was a chronic shortage of 1000 items out of 1200 which would be on a model shopping list. There was a static farm output and high levels of inflation. (31) Therefore it can be seen that communism was an economic disaster. Khrushchev's remark again can be used to ... role of the Politburo. Piece by piece Gorbachev was chipping away at the old elite's confidence and beliefs. The fact that Gorbachev was gaining support both from the public at home and abroad, further eroded their confidence. When th...

• Word Count: 5545
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... growth rate. Shops were calculated to be lacking 243 out 276 basic consumer items and there was a chronic shortage of 1000 items out of 1200 which would be on a model shopping list. There was a static farm output and high levels of inflation. (31) Therefore it can be seen that communism was an economic disaster. Khrushchev's remark again can be used to ... role of the Politburo. Piece by piece Gorbachev was chipping away at the old elite's confidence and beliefs. The fact that Gorbachev was gaining support both from the public at home and abroad, further eroded their confidence. When th...

• Word Count: 5545
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School