DONALD R. HODGMAN. Soviet Industrial Production, 1928-1951. Pp. 241. Cam bridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1954. $5.00

• Author: P.J.D. Wiles
• DOI: 10.1177/000271625530000166
• Published date: 01 July 1955
• Date: 01 July 1955
• Subject Matter: Articles

169
speculation is true, the show places I saw
cluded from official statistics-is neglected
reflect badly upon what was unrevealed.&dquo;
in the estimation of the growth of produc-
What this remark reflects is the cautious
tivity. To be sure it is impossible to esti-
attitude of Mr. MacDuffie, which prevails
mate, but it certainly rates a mention.
with a few exceptions in his book.
On the theoretical side, it is perhaps
It is finally worth mentioning that the
worth saying that there is some defence
reader will find in the book many very
for including new goods in a production
valuable data about such topics as, for in-
index with inflated weights, as the Soviet
stance, prices on free &dquo;Kolkhoz&dquo; markets
authorities did until 1950. The resulting
or wages and salaries in various state enter-
upward bias over more ordinarily calculated
prises-all noted by the author on the
indices, especially in a period of rapid in-
spot.
dustrialization when there will be many new
GEORGE DENICKE
goods, ifs not purely bogus. This is for
Washington, D. C.
a reason that, curiously enough, Soviet
ingenuity has never urged in excuse: a
new good is better that the old one for
DONALD R. HODGMAN. Soviet Industrial
which it is a substitute, yet costs the same
Production, 1928-1951. Pp. 241. Cam-
or less (or it would not be introduced).
bridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press,
Therefore, to weight it by its cost, or by
1954. $5.00.
a price fixed on the basis of its cost (as
Since this book is entirely specialized and
opposed to a perfectly competitive price)
quite unsuited for laymen, it is reviewed as
is to weight it too low relatively to the
such. Professor Hodgman sets out to com-
old substitute, if that is similarly weighted.
pile an index of Soviet industrial produc-
Therefore, all cost of living indices have
tion from the individuals published series
an upward, and all production indices a
of physical outputs, using Soviet weights.
downward, bias compared with an...