Production of Public Goods as a Space for the Development of Human Potential: Contradictions and the Potential of Soviet Practices

Abstract

The article analyzes the contradictions in the development of public goods production sphere in the USSR. It is shown that, on the one hand, such spheres as science, education, public health care, culture, etc. in this economic system were developing on the principles of general accessibility, egalitarianism, guarantees of employment. This provision has become one of the foundations for the formation of creative potential among a wide range of citizens, boost of creative activity, high results in the development of human potential, technology, culture. On the other hand, in these areas, as in the economy as a whole, this progress was hampered by numerous deformations of progressive trends (bureaucracy, shadow commercial relations, etc.). Critical use of the experience of the USSR shows that the development of spheres in which prevails creative labor as spaces for the creation and distribution of public goods can give high economic, social and humanitarian results, provided they are organized in the democratic mode.