<P> The dissolution of the Soviet Union took place as a result and against the backdrop of general economic stagnation, even regression . As the Gosplan, which had set up production chains to cross SSR lines, broke down, the inter-republic economic connections were also disrupted, leading to even more serious breakdown of the post-Soviet economies . </P> <P> Most of the formerly Soviet states began the transition to a market economy from a command economy in 1990 - 1991 and made efforts to rebuild and restructure their economic systems, with varying results . In all, the process triggered severe economic declines, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropping by more than 40% overall between 1990 and 1995 . This decline in GDP was much more intense than the 27% decline that the United States suffered in the wake of the Great Depression between 1930 and 1934 . The reconfiguration of public finance in compliance with capitalist principles resulted in dramatically reduced spending on health, education and other social programs, leading to a sharp increase in poverty and economic inequality . The economic shocks associated with wholesale privatization resulted in the excess deaths of roughly 1 million working age individuals throughout the former Soviet bloc in the 1990s . A study by economist Steven Rosefielde asserts that 3.4 million Russians died premature deaths from 1990 to 1998, partly as the result of "shock therapy" imposed by the Washington consensus . </P> <P> The initial transition decline was eventually arrested by the cumulative effect of market reforms, and after 1995 the economy in the post-Soviet states began to recover, with GDP switching from negative to positive growth rates . By 2007, 10 of the 15 post-Soviet states had recovered and reached GDP greater than what they had in 1991 . Only Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan had GDP significantly below the 1991 level . The recovery in Russia was marginal, with GDP in 2006 - 2007 just nudging above the 1991 level . Combined with the aftershocks of the 1998 economic crisis it led to a return of more interventionist economic policies by Vladimir Putin's administration . Some academic studies show that many former Soviet Republics and Warsaw Pact countries still have not caught up to their levels of output during the twilight of the Soviet era . </P> <P> Change in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in constant prices, 1991 - 2015 </P>

Countries that were formerly part of the soviet union