Final answer:
The command economic system in the former Soviet Union was highly centralized, with the government dictating all economic activities, from production to distribution, resulting in rapid industrialization but at the cost of economic efficiency and personal freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
The command economic system in the former Soviet Union was characterized by strict government control where the state made all economic decisions. Industrial production, for instance, was centrally planned—everything from what would be produced to the methods of production were dictated by the government. This planning extended to set production quotas, determining worker allocation, and managing the distribution of the finished products. Goals for production were often set in five-year plans, which laid out detailed directions for the economy.
Despite achieving rapid industrialization and becoming a major industrial power on the eve of World War II, the Soviet model faced significant challenges. Critics point out that while the system aimed for equality, it often did so at the cost of personal liberty and economic efficiency. The lack of incentives for workers, the bureaucracy's size, and the rigidity of the system resulted in a stagnated market. After its dissolution in 1991, Russia and other former Soviet states began transitioning towards a more market-oriented system.