| Economic difficulties. The decline of economic growth in the 1970s (after strong growth rates in the 1950s and 1960s) presented serious problems in agricultural and energy sectors in the 1980s. A shortage of food supplies and consumer goods became an increasing national problem. To raise farm productivity, the central government expanded the material and technical base of agriculture and related industries, but the problems in the agricultural sector were overcome only very slowly, because of bureaucratic and political corruption. In the early 1980s, the energy sector also suffered a serious decline in the production of oil, gas, and coal. The USSR faced growing problems because of prior environmental damage, some deterioration in public health, increasing alcoholism, and difficulties with worker morale and motivation. By the early 1980s, death rates were surpassing birth rates as the population declined. | 1 |
