The Soviet Union understood the importance of innovation and took many steps to spur it along—but these attempts failed. Because Stalin’s whims controlled the economy, the authors suggest, citizens expected instability in the Soviet Union’s economic future. As a result, they couldn’t trust that their investments would be safe or that they’d be rewarded for their efforts or innovations. In fact, the authors argue that Stalin’s policies actually
punished innovation and hampered creative destruction. This further supports the authors’ belief that extractive institutions are inherently hostile to innovation and stifle long-term economic growth.