The Economic Consequences of an Invasion of Poland by the Soviet Union.

This thesis examines the economic situation and implications of a Soviet invasion of Poland. The analysis concerns the state of the Polish and Soviet economies and the possible economic effects of an invasion of the Soviet Union of Poland. The hypothesis offered is that the weaknesses of the economic system of the U.S.S.R. are of a magnitude that an invasion of Poland would have such devastating economic consequences that it is the major inhibiting factor to any like action. Although a Soviet armed invasion is not completely ruled out, the economic realities of both Poland and the Soviet Union impose formidable constraints on any attempts to crush the Polish reform movement in a way that would result in Western economic retaliation. Author