Stalin as an economist

Yuriy Korechkov

doi:10.52957/2221-3260-2026-4-13-26

JEL

B22 B24 B25 B31

STALIN AS AN ECONOMIST Stalin as an economist

АА Аа

Published in Theoretical economics · Pages 13–26 · Rubric: ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF THEORETICAL ECONOMY

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-4-13-26

Received: 05.03.2026 Accepted: 27.04.2026 Published: 30.04.2026

Authors

Yuriy Korechkov

ORCID

Yuriy Korechkov

Academic degree: doctor of economic sciences

Science rang: professor

International Academy of Business and New Technologies Russian Federation

Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation" Vladikavkaz Branch Yaroslavl Branch · Russian Federation · Moscow

Yaroslavl Higher Military School of Air Defense named after Marshal of the Soviet Union L.V. Govorov Russian Federation · Yaroslavl

ORCID

ABSTRACT

The article examines the theoretical and practical activities of Joseph Stalin as an economist. The problematic aspects of Stalin’s life are highlighted. The article considers the historical role of Stalin in the system of global geopolitical relations, in the creation of one of the largest state entities – the USSR. Highlighting some negative aspects, the article notes that the importance of Stalin’s activities in the system of world political and economic relations is enormous. This was due to the tremendous transformations in geopolitics and the system of global economic relations that took place on the basis of the transformation of socio-political systems. The three main contradictions that Stalin identified are shown.: 1) the contradiction between labor and capital; 2) the contradiction between various financial groups and the imperialist powers; 3) the contradiction between the «handful of dominant civilized nations» and hundreds of millions of colonial and dependent peoples of the world. The article substantiates that in the USSR, under Stalin, an approach was formed to the basic economic attitude of socialism, which was defined as national ownership of the means of production. Stalin’s point of view about the socialist system is shown, in which, in his opinion, production relations are in full accordance with the state of the productive forces and reflect the social character of the production process. Stalin’s work as a practical economist is seen as inextricably linked to the geopolitical events of those years. In the 1930s, monetary and tax reforms, the collectivization of agriculture, and the industrialization of industry were carried out. The creation of a powerful economic basis served as the basis for victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is noted that under Stalin’s leadership, in the five years after the war, the destroyed national economy was restored, economic growth was ensured, and the welfare of the population improved. Thanks to Stalin’s determination and perseverance, the atomic project was implemented in the USSR, which prevented Western countries from launching a nuclear strike on the country. Rocket science was developing. An independent financial system was created.

KEYWORDS

Stalin, economy, socialism, USSR, public ownership, planning, direct social product, collectivization, industrialization

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