This paper discusses the author's knowledge of the processes of Soviet economic development gained in the ten years he held a variety of posts in research institutions of the Soviet central planning organs. The paper focuses on the highest political leadership level of the economic organizational structure, its system of administration, and its decisionmaking process in setting directions for Soviet economic development. The author considers the paper an initial phase of research and presents information without extensive analysis. He relies heavily on personal knowledge and unpublished normative acts of Soviet party and state development gathered while he worked in the Soviet Union; he supplements this with published material and notes to indicate the circumstances in which he acquired the information.

"January 1986."

Part I.Factors conditioning Soviet decisionmaking on resource allocation -- Part II. Party organs of general administration of the Soviet economy : highest organs of the party and organs of the central committee -- Part III. Permanent branch commissions of the presidium of the USSR Council of Ministers : basic functions and administrative connections -- Part IV. Graphic overview.