549 



sion of the Tol'iatti and other automobile factories is expected. 40 More 

 importation of foreign equipment and more industrial cooperation 

 with Western firms will undoubtedly be necessary for further prog- 

 ress. In addition to assisting in Soviet automobile production, Western 

 companies are likely to participate in related activities, such as road 

 building and construction of repair facilities. 



Housing construction has been a treadmill for Soviet planners. 

 Urban growth accounts for most of the expansion in space. The in- 

 crease from about 6 to 7.5 square meters per capita for 1960-1970 is not 

 likely to be improved on much by 1975. Still more important is the 

 availability of reliable consumer durables and bathroom and kitchen 

 space. In 1972, Soviet citizens had about one-third to one-half of the 

 number of refrigerators, washing machines, and television sets per 

 capita found in American households. Moreover, many urban apart- 

 ments in the U.S.S.R. require the sharing of bathrooms and kitchens, 41 

 and many household durable goods sold to Soviet consumers are ap- 

 parently of inferior quality. Much can be gained from technology 

 transfers from other industrial nations. For example, Soviet officials 

 arranged for adoption of French color television in 1965. As it has not 

 yet been perfected at competitive cost, the Soviets may have to look 

 elsewhere for assistance. 



TRANSPORTATION 



A key element in Soviet plans to modernize industry and improve 

 consumer welfare is the modernization of the Soviet transportation 

 system. Increases in pipeline construction and in auto transport (for 

 both freight and passengers) are highlighted in the Ninth Five- Year 

 Plan. (See Table 3.) 



TABLE 3— TRANSPORTATION IN THE 9TH 5-YEAR PLAN 



Freight transport: 



Turnover of freight transport (ton 



kilometers) 



railroad . . . 



sea 



lake 



automobile 



air 



pipeline 



Billions of 

 passenger 

 kilometers 



Percent 

 of total 



Billions of 

 passenger 

 kilometers 



Percent 

 of total 



Passenger transport: 



Turnover of passenger transport 



(passenger kilometers) 548.9 100.0 782.3 100.0 



railroad 265.4 48.3 330.0 42.2 



sea 1.6 .3 1.9 .2 



lake 5.4 1.0 6.4 .8 



automobile (bus) _ 198.3 36.1 311.0 39.8 



air 78.2 14.3 133.0 17.0 



1975 as a 



percentage 



of 1970 



143 

 124 

 119 

 118 

 157 

 170 



Source: Planovoe khoziaistvo (Planned Economy). No. 5, 1972, p. 16. 



40 A large increase in passenger car production was projected In the Ninth Five- Year 

 Plan. An output of 1,335,000 cars is planned for 1975, compared with 392,000 in 1970. 

 See Baibakov, op. clt, p. 126. 



41 Peterson Report (1972), op. cit, Annex A, p. 22. 



