The First Five-Year Plan, or 1st Five-Year Plan, of the Union of Soviet Socialis

t Republics (USSR) was a list of economic goals that was designed to strengthen
the country's economy between 1928 and 1932, making the nation both militarily a
nd industrially self-sufficient. "We are fifty or a hundred years behind the adv
anced countries. We must make good this distance in ten years. Either we do it,
or they will crush us," Stalin said in 1931, One of the primary objectives of St
alin's First Five-Year Plan was to build up the country's heavy industry.vv
The introduction of collectivization spurred industrialization in the nation as
millions of people, of the 80% of the total population that was engaged in agric
ulture, moved from the country into the city. Despite many of the targets being
unbelievably high (a 250% increase in overall industrial development, with a 330
% percent expansion in heavy industry), remarkable results were achieved:
â ¢ Pig iron: 6.2 million tons (compared to 3.3 million tons in 1928, and a prescrib
ed target of 8.0 million tons)
â ¢ Steel: 5.9 million tons (compared to 4.0 million tons in 1928, and a prescribed
target of 8.3 million tons)
â ¢ Coal: 64.3 million tons (compared to 35.4 million tons in 1928, and a prescribed
target of 68.0 million tons)
â ¢ Oil: 21.4 million tons (compared to 11.7 million tons in 1928, and a prescribed
target of 19.0 million tons)
â ¢ Electricity: 13.4 billion kWh (compared to 5.0 billion kWh in 1928, and a prescr
ibed target of 17.0 billion kWh)
â ¢ However, while the plan encouraged industrialization, it damaged Soviet agricult
ure to such an extent that it didn't recover until after the Second World War. T
he plan was considered by the Soviet leadership so successful in this sense that
the second Five-Year Plan was declared in 1932, lasting until 1937.
â ¢ Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths (one year of age or y
ounger) per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was
dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hyd
ration Solution (a mixture of salts, sugar, and water) to mothers around the wor
ld has decreased the rate of children dying from dehydration. Currently, the mos
t common cause is pneumonia. Other causes of infant mortality include: malnutrit
ion, malaria, congenital malformation, infection and SIDS.
closed economy

Definition
An economy that does not interact with the economy of any other country. A close
d economy prohibits imports and exports, and prohibits any other country from pa
rticipating in their stock market. There have been many examples of closed econo
mies throughout history, but very few closed economies exist today.
Objectives of the 2nd five year plan (1956 to 1961): Industries got more importa
nce in the 2nd five year plan. The focus was mainly on heavy industries. The Ind
ian government boosted manufacturing of industrial goods in the country. This wa
s done primarily to develop the public sector.
As many as five steel plants including the ones in Durgapur, Jamshedpur as well
as Bhilai were set up as per the 2nd five year plan. Hydroelectric power plants
were formed during the tenure of the 2nd five year plan. There was considerable
increase in production of coal. The North eastern part of the country, witnessed
increase in the number of railway tracks.