Participation of John Maynard Keynes in the Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences in September 1925

Abstract

The article is devoted to the visit of the famous English economist John M. Keynes in the USSR in September 1925 at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The reasons for the refusal of many foreign scientists attend the anniversary are revealed. It reviews the obstacles to the economic development in the USSR that Keynes pointed out during the conversation with Politburo member G. Zinoviev. It was found that the price policy advocated by Keynes in his speech at the People’s Commissariat of Finance was close to the approach of the USSR Commissar of Finance G.Sokolnikov. The author draws attention to Keynes’ considerations about the use of NEP experience in preparation of his proposals for reforming the capitalist system.