Economic Quote by David Hoffman
“Gorbachev was acutely aware of the [USSR] economic problems, and it was central to all he did. He wanted to change the system in hopes of saving it. In the end he could not.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Gorbachev’s Reform Attempts, 1991
Gorbachev recognized Soviet economic flaws and tried reform, but systemic issues proved insurmountable.
In simple terms: He saw problems, tried to fix them, failed.
Systemic change requires broad support.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- economic planning
- leadership
- public opinion
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What conditions enable successful reform?
- How do leaders balance idealism and realism?
Reforms can be thwarted by entrenched interests.