Economic

• 1985-86: Gorbachev talks of acceleration of economic development
• 1985: Gorbachev launches anti alcohol campaign to improve workplace efficiency

  mid 1980s alcohol 15% household spending
• 1987: Gorbachev introduces perestroika (restructuring) - reorganisation of economy
• June 1987: Law on State enterprises, allowed loosening of state control over wages and prices - weakened authority of gosplan
• Jan 1988: Co-operatives legalised, allowed small scale private enterprises, move to more market based economy
• July 1989: State Commission for Economic Reform recommends move to market-led economy. Politburo split
• Oct 1989: 500 day programme recommended calls for full transition to market economy in 500 Days. Soviet government rejected Russian government accepts it - split party leadership
• April 1990: government subsidies for basic goods cut. Prices rise
• Jan 1991: private ownership of businesses and property legalised
• April 1991: trading of stocks and shares legalised
• Oct 1991: Yeltsin announces programme of complete marketisation of Russian economy
• USSR had suffered economic difficulties before but had not collapsed, indicated it was thr breakdown of the political system that was more important