Turning Point

Thus far perestroika has not produced tangible results for the average Soviet citizen. Shmelev and Popov, proponents of economic restructuring, are Moscow-based economists. In this detailed primer for serious students of the Soviet economy, they talk about ``the social-class structure'' of the supposedly classless U.S.S.R., and boldly advocate redistribution of power from bureaucrats to work collectives and the people. Harking back to Lenin's ``deviationist'' New Economic Policy (NEP), which permitted private enterprise, the authors set forth proposals designed to revitalize agriculture and industry. As Richard Ericson of Columbia University suggests in a preface, readers can use this text as a roadmap to watch for milestones and pitfalls as perestroika evolves. (Nov.)