Economy was dying but not for lack of innovation. Mostly because certain very poor agricultural decisions caused repeated famines and further social unrest. Ot

Economy was dying but not for lack of innovation. Mostly because certain very poor agricultural decisions caused repeated famines and further social unrest. Other than that it is telling that USSR was essentially a close second to USA for most of its existence, sometimes even at the forefront. The problem was management in the lower base levels like building industry, especially agriculture and some low level factory work, like parts or pieces. R&D and military industry was excellent.