STATE GRAIN RESERVES IN THE USSR AND THE SOCIAL POLICIES

State grain reserves in the USSR and the social policies (by Vassily P opov) deals with a poorly known aspect of the soviet social and politi cal practices of the 1930 to early 1950s. Basing on new archival sourc es the author analyses institutional, political, economic and social i mpact of the official practices of setting aside sizable amounts of gr ain for emergencies. The facts is emphasized that even in 1946-1948, w hen the USSR had been stricken by draught and hunger, state grain rese rves on the eve of a new crop (the 1 of June resp. year) had exceeded the respective war-time amounts. These policies, the author maintains, in view of the sufferings by the population and huge social costs, ca nnot be termed as effective ones.