• tal@lemmy.today
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      1 month ago

      https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0000498114.pdf

      Soviet Computer Technology: Little Prospect for Catching Up

      We believe that there are many reasons why the Soviets trail the United States in computer technology:

      • The Soviets’ centrally-planned economy does not permit adequate flexibility to design or manufacturing changes frequently encountered in computer production; this situation has often resulted in a shortage of critical components — especially for new products.
          • ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works
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            29 days ago

            Marginally. The paper analyzes the capabilities as they existed in the 1980s, but doesn’t draw strong conclusions as to why that may be. It does demonstrate how reliance on central planning results in inadequaciea when said central planning is not operating well, though.

            The paper doesn’t really mention it but the central planning of the USSR was actively reeling from Brezhnev dying, Andropov dying, and Chernenko either dying or about to die at the time the CIA thing was written. So yeah, correct is an accurate if imprecise way to put it.