It was pretty simple in the USSR: the government owns the farms, the government profits from them, they pay the workers (very often in product).
The government/party says a new farm will be created here, the order goes out.
It is all controlled from the top (communist party) through the regional council, through the local council (often a few councils inbetween). After the farm is established, a few inspections by party officials and it's all set up and operating.
This created the perfect opportunity to fudge reports like there's no tomorrow and essentially the party had no idea what is actually going on.
Papers say production is fine, orders are to maintain levels, report comes back saying everything is proceeding as ordered. In reality, production was higher than reported (with no room to grow if ordered), workers are skimming product, managers are skimming product, local council is skimming product and money, regional council is skimming money. To make up for the shit pay, but also because why not, the party won't miss it.
Orders come in to increase production, report says "no can do, need more equipment, need more land, need more workers". Of course, more than is actually needed, so someone can have their own tractors.
The black market, often in barter, was huge.
The party in Moscow could not contain its spread even with their network of spies. People trusted each other, not the party, the police were in on it.
Not sure if that's how it works in China, but they have the advantage of instant communications, instant checks on any level, modern surveillance.
The government/party says a new farm will be created here, the order goes out.
It is all controlled from the top (communist party) through the regional council, through the local council (often a few councils inbetween). After the farm is established, a few inspections by party officials and it's all set up and operating.
This created the perfect opportunity to fudge reports like there's no tomorrow and essentially the party had no idea what is actually going on.
Papers say production is fine, orders are to maintain levels, report comes back saying everything is proceeding as ordered. In reality, production was higher than reported (with no room to grow if ordered), workers are skimming product, managers are skimming product, local council is skimming product and money, regional council is skimming money. To make up for the shit pay, but also because why not, the party won't miss it.
Orders come in to increase production, report says "no can do, need more equipment, need more land, need more workers". Of course, more than is actually needed, so someone can have their own tractors.
The black market, often in barter, was huge.
The party in Moscow could not contain its spread even with their network of spies. People trusted each other, not the party, the police were in on it.
Not sure if that's how it works in China, but they have the advantage of instant communications, instant checks on any level, modern surveillance.
This turned out messy, I'm too tired.