However discrepancies between the economic policies of Stalin and Mao appear after the First plan. Stalin continued on with the plans in 1933 and 1938, based around the economic policy of collectivization. However, Mao knew the Soviet model for industrial development would be ineffective due to China's high ratio of workers to resources meaning many workers would become inefficient. Slow agricultural growth also meant that there would be a lack of capital goods.within china unless growth managed to increase significantly. Also, Soviet aid had become excessive loans and exploitation of China. Therefore, Mao adapted his economic policies, progressing towards the Great Leap Forward. .
Stalin's second and third plans set more attainable targets for workers and focused on a greater production of machinery and arms for defense. Stalin also had an economic policy similar to that of Mao's Great Leap Forward, collectivization. peasants were forced to collectivize farms and agriculture to obtain more money for industrialization. Collectivization led to famine, mass death and a reduction of both harvest and yield. This was seen to be a huge failure of Stalin and his domestic economic policies. However, Mao's Great Leap Forward leaned more upon agriculture than heavy industry as seen by the communes. Here, people were forced into communal areas where farmers had to grow crops and also produce steel and iron for infrastructure projects. By 1958, around 90 million peasants became involved in steel production. .
Viewing both the leaders' policies on the basis of economic success, Stalin's policies were successful. Stalin took a undeveloped country and transformed it into a massive, urban working class with most of the country being electrified, which had not been seen before. The policy of collectivization fulfilled goals as peasants were now paid wages with ,land and machinery being collectively owned.
