Why USSR failed to compete with USA in Technology

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USSR could not use scale of global market. It means USSR was mere 10% of global economy while USA was 35% of global economy and USA could trade with West Europe and Japan who made another 25% of global economy which USSR could not. USSR traded mainly with East Europe who make 5% of global economy. Third World have only raw materials and no technology to trade with.

USSR could not use individual entrepreneurship and so failed to commercialize the technologies invested by USSR scientists. USSR was number one in patent making from 1960 to 1985. In USSR technological demand mainly used to come from military and little from from production.

USSR shows central planning is best for Research and Inventions and market is best for commercializing those inventions. Thus USSR could easily compete with USA in technologies but not in production and the more USSR lost in production the more its competitive edge in technology is lost.

Low fertility rate (less than replacement rate of 2.1) since 1970s further weakened production base of USSR as it could not rely on rise in productivity and efficiency of workers which is considered exploitation due to flawed understanding of Marxism. USSR growth was dependent on growth of population and since 1970s this only growth factor was gone.

In 1970s, it seems USSR was winning mainly due to rise of anti colonial movements across the Third World and USA's non intervention approach due to Kissinger's decolonisation policy after loss of Vietnam War. Also high inflation in global market made USSR economic condition look good and its non integration to global economy was given credit.

In 1970s, USSR economy looked in good shape due to high oil price. Many of USSR problems were neglected in 1970s due to the fact that oil exports was leading to huge foreign exchange gains. In fact, this high oil price further weakened production base of USSR.

In 1980s when oil price went down, USSR understood its production base was gone. Population growth has stopped and so production growth has to rely on productivity gains only. So reforms had to start which was looked down upon as anti Marxist again due to lawed understanding of Marxism.

Global market in 1980s is facing low inflation rate due to lower oil price and becaue of integration of huge Chinese productive cheap labor force into the global economy.

It is said that Marxists are masters of using rivalry among capitalists for their own gains. Lenin used German vs British to form USSR. Stalin used American British rivalry with German Japanese to make USSR a super power. But Breznev failed to use the capitalist rivalry between UK based computer maker ICL and US based counterpart IBM. Gorbachev failed to use Japanese offer for help to counter US competitors. Toshiba, the Japanese chip maker tried to help USSR chip making but Gorbachev failed to use the offer. In fact, Toshiba was punished severely by US government for offering help to USSR.

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Author: Saikat Bhattacharya

Technology news General Socialism Communism Xi Jinping Mao USSR China 12-July-2022 by east is rising

India's Political Stunt of Allowing International Trade in Indian Rupee: Only Chinese Yuan can challenge US Dollar

Indian Rupee cannot be internationalized. To be an international currency, a currency have to represent a big economy. Indian GDP is mere 3.25% of global GDP. Only USD Euro Yuan can be truly global currency. It is because USA represents 24% of global GDP, China represents 19% and EU represents 17%. Indian option of using Rupee in global transactions is simply a waste of time and mere big talk. That's why even after making Rubble Rupee deal, Indian companies are trading with Russia in Yuan.

GDP is most important. The larger GDP a country has, the larger production value and asset value it owns. A country's currency buys that same country's production and assets only. The larger production value and asset value a country has the more value its currency can buy. It means Chile and Nigeria can trade with USD, Euro and Yuan only because by possessing these currencies these countries can buy production and assets from USA, EU and China. Being largest economies each almost one fifth of global GDP, USA, EU and China have the have highest probability of offering best products and assets to Chile and Nigeria.

Hence the more GDP a country has the higher will be the demand for that country's currency. Now question comes, can the country defend its production and asset from external aggression? Here comes the importance of military power. But again, military power of a country is dependent on that country's GDP especially manufacturing and technological strength.

Now EU is a collection of many countries having little military power and hence Euro stands no chance to be used at same rate as USD is used in global market. So Euro is always less used compared to USD though their GDP was similar most of times since 2000. China has exceeded US GDP in terms of PPP (quantity) and about to exceed US GDP in nominal terms (quality both perceived and real) between 2024 and 2028.

China is one country and has military potential to dominate at least its neighbourhood. So Yuan is indeed a potential challenger to USD in the long run. But they will happen in steps.

First China has to show its capability to dominate its neighbourhood. Second economic and military compulsions will force USA to allow China to dominate Chinese backyard. Thirdly China's neighbours will start using Yuan in global transactions. Gradually Yuan usage share in global market will rise and that of USD and or Euro will fall.

By 2035, the global economy will see equal usage of USD and Yuan. In between 2022 and 203, three currencies to dominate global transactions namely USD Euro and Yuan. It may happen that Euro lost out. This is because EU is mostly economically stagnant since the last two decades, EU is union of many nations which can break anytime and Russia-Ukraine war is weakening EU production to the core. So by 2035 we may find global market mainly dominated by USD and Yuan only. Any other currency can have minor role in Multi-polar world. In 2022, Indian Rupee cannot be used in global transactions as nobody will find good product or asset in Indian market.

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Author: Saikat Bhattacharya

International geopolitics General China India growth Han Hindi 12-July-2022 by east is rising