The challenge of perestroika: transition to intensive development; strengthening social provision; radical reform of management; more cooperatives and self-employment; glasnost, democracy and self-management; the first steps; will it happen?; on the eve - the lessons of history; efficiency as the driving force of perestroika; the challenge of technological breakthrough; new investment policy; the radical reform of management; plan and market; an open economy; the enterprise - incentives for self-development; perestroika for people; glasnost, democracy, self-management as the dynamo of perestroika; can the Soviet economy sustain a new round of the arms race?; in place of a conclusion - the Soviet economy in the 21st century. Appendix 1 Use of dynamic inter-branch models to study the future growth of the Soviet economy. Appendix 2 Mathematical economic research into the problem of combining centralisation in the development of the national economic system with independence of its separate productive units.