Воспоминания о Борисе Павловиче Орлове

Abstract

Memories of Novosibirsk economist Boris Pavlovich Orlov consist of three episodes. The first analyzes his work “Development of Transport in the USSR”. The author analyzes the fundamental nature of the work, the use of archival data and the truthfulness of the analysis. An objective coverage of the history of Soviet transport is noted, especially during the periods of the first five-year plan and the Soviet-Finnish war. The author gives a qualified analysis of the reasons for the orientation in railway transport towards the development of track facilities and the expansion and renewal of rolling stock instead of new railway construction. The second episode is connected with the defense of Ph.D. thesis of the author, in which Boris Pavlovich was the first opponent. Despite the seditiousness of many of its provisions for that time, Orlov supported it and highly appreciated it. The third episode is connected with the author’s leadership of the student scientific society at the Faculty of Economics of the Novosibirsk State University, of which Orlov was then the dean. The scientific work of this society, which boldly explored the acute problems of the socialist economy, was subjected to political persecution. Boris Pavlovich did not take any part in this company, at the risk of his administrative position. In conclusion, the high level of Boris Pavlovich Orlov’s qualifications, his honesty, civic courage and decency are discussed in the article.