Reviews the evolution of money and banking in Russia and the Soviet Union from its early history through the 1930s. Also examines money, inflation, the gold reserve, the credit and planning apparatus of the state bank, and long-term investment institutions during the 1930s.

This title was first published in 1979. Essential information for understanding a credit system that is different from that of the 'Capitalist' countires and which has envolved into an integral and essential part of 'soviet- type economies'. Dr Zwass has done a workman-like job in providing another valuable contribution to our knowledge of economies of eastern europe- George Garvy.

Economic research monograph on banking and monetary policy in the USSR - covers foreign exchange, trade and the balance of payments, price stabilization policies, the nature of capital flows, foreign investments, financial planning, the credit system, etc. Bibliography pp. 204 to 218, diagram and references.

It is a pleasure to introduce Dr. Kusehpeta's study of the USSR banking and eredit system with some measure of enthusiasm, for the subjeet is one about which there is, as yet, not mueh literature available in the Western European languages and this study approaehes the subjeet from the view-point of sourees taken from within the Soviet Union itself. No matter how revolutionary the ehange, some ties with the past still remain and it is for this reason that the author has paid initial attention to the banking system of the Tsars and proceeds to de al with the development of the banking system sine e the Revolution of 1917. While history has made the Communist Civil War, the New Eeonomie Poliey and the Khrushehev reforms to be familiar to us, the effeets of these events on the banking and monetary system have, thus far, never been fully researched. Next, the author deals extensively with the existing banking- and eredit system. This subjeet is not easy to understand, beeause we are obliged to beeome familiar with totally different eoeepts than those governing the mixed eeonomic system of the Western World. I, personally, am struek by the sharp separation between the eurreney and the 'deposit' or 'transfer' mone y cireulation.

This paper surveys some of the principal monetary policy issues facing countries of the former U.S.S.R. The emphasis is on the immediate problem of imposing financial discipline in these economies, to bring down inflation quickly and decisively. Possible options for the essential nominal anchor are considered, together with the problems of selecting appropriate targets and instruments for monetary policy needed to make that anchor effective. It is argued that, if the stabilization effort is to be sustained, discipline must be imposed at the micro- as well as the macro-level, and the paper suggests a second-best approach to the allocation of credit in the absence of well-functioning credit markets.

Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Preface -- Chapter 1. Money in a Planned Economy -- Chapter 2. The Price System in the Planned Economies -- Chapter 3. Are the Planned Economies Shielded from Inflation? -- Chapter 4. The Banking System in a Planned Economy -- Chapter 5. The Credit Policies of the Planned Economies -- Chapter 6. Money, Credit, and Prices in Foreign Trade -- Chapter 7. Summary: Perspectives for Incorporating CMEA Currencies into International Trade -- About the Author