which result in efficiency improvements, and may vary 

 from 10 rubles to 5000 rubles. 25 



This discussion of inventions and associated com- 

 pensation serves as an introduction to the Soviet in- 

 centive system, perhaps the most important of all the 

 indirect control mechanisms. It is certainly one of 

 the most complex. Figure 11-1 illustrates those ele- 

 ments of the system concerned only with material in- 

 centives, in both the independent R&D organization 

 and the production establishment. Incentives are 

 channeled through wage manipulation and bonus funds; 

 of the latter there are general funds of the organi- 

 zation and funds associated with special activities. 

 There are also collective and individual bonuses. 

 Throughout all these programs, however, the economic 

 theme predominates; whenever possible, remunerations 

 are predicated on the economic savings produced by 

 the contributions. 2 6 



At independent R&D organizations, incentives tend 

 to be associated more frequently with the activities 

 of individual scientists or groups of scientists rath- 

 er than the overall results of the organization. Cer- 

 tainly this approach derives from the tendency of re- 

 searchers to be project-oriented and from the diffi- 

 culty of evaluating aggregate performance of the in- 

 stitute or design bureau. Material incentive pro- 

 grams which benefit personnel at independent R&D es- 

 tablishments include prizes for especially noteworthy 

 scientific research and development. At the national 

 level these are Lenin and State Prizes. These prizes 

 are awarded annually for the most outstanding achieve- 

 ments. State prizes are also awarded in science and 

 technology by the republics of the USSR. In recent 

 years the Central Committee of the All-Union Young 

 Communist League has given "Young Komsomol Prizes" to 

 young scientists for especially outstanding S&T ac- 

 complishments . 



In addition, creators of the best displays at the 

 Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy 

 are presented gold, silver, and bronze medals and 

 certificates each year. For areas of technology war- 

 ranting special attention, a highly flexible system 



192 



