- most of soviet troops → keen to enjoy higher standard of living.
- knew that ordinary Americans had cars, telephones, TV, washing machines and other devices.
- in USSR → such items rare + impossible to afford
- bc command economy → prioritised industry + military spending over consumer goods
workers wages also not increasing Many other non comm countries, esp. Western Europe, Japan, and other parts of Asia → had higher standards of living than USSR
Over investment in Military → took money away from areas such as education as well as research and development in univ.
- these sectors were creating economic growth in US → this wasn’t happening in USSR