Britannica AI Icon

First Five-Year Plan

Soviet economics

Quick Summary

The First Five-Year Plan was a method of planning economic growth over limited periods through quotas, first used in the Soviet Union. Implemented by Joseph Stalin, the first plan (1928–1932) focused on developing heavy industry and collectivizing agriculture. This came at the expense of consumer goods and led to severe famines, particularly in Ukraine, which has been recognized as an attempted genocide. The plan established a "command economy" where subordinate units operated based on administrative instructions rather than market negotiations. While it achieved significant industrial growth, it drastically reduced the availability of consumer goods.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.