Industrial Modernization in the Penza Region in the Years of Reform of the Soviet Management System in 1957–1965

The relevance of the article lies in the fact that the state management experience in 1957-1965 can be useful and required by domestic enterprises in modern conditions. Most academic economists consider the late 1950s – early 1960s the most successful period in the development of the country’s industry in Soviet times. In this regard, an objective analysis of the industrial development of the Penza region, the peculiarities of the modernization of industry in the regional aspect are of significant interest, since they can help to develop an optimal solution to such problems in the current conditions. The purpose of the paper is to study the history of the industrial development of the Penza region in 1957–1965, determine the most important factors for the development of the industrial potential of the region, characterize the production process and staffing of the region’s economy during the period under study, analyze the modernization process and identify the prospects for the development of the national economy. Materials and methods. The paper made use of publications on industrial modernization in the Penza region of the RSFSR. Among them, of particular importance are the works by G.N. Belorybkin, O.A. Sukhova, O.V. Yagova, A.V. Tyustina, I.S. Shishkina, N.N. Kalutskova, M.D. Goryachko, V.I. Volchikhina, I.A. Kazakova and others. The authors of the paper applied the methods of historicism, objectivity, comprehensiveness in covering the issues of the problem under consideration. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that the authors covered some events and facts previously unknown to the scientific community. Study results. In May 1957, a law was adopted on the management of industry through the Councils of National Economy, which led to the creation of territorial governing bodies (except for electrical engineering, defense, aviation, shipbuilding, radio engineering and chemical industries) instead of branch ministries. Overall indicators of the country’s economic development in the late 1957 – early 1960s allow us to conclude that the foundations of industrial society in the USSR are being built. The late 1950s – early 1960s entered the history of modernization of the Penza region as a successful period of development of industry and transport in Soviet times. Conclusions. Reorganization of the national economy of the country in the above mentioned period was aimed at improving the efficiency of the state’s governance system to guide the country forward on the road to modernization and achieving the level of developed economies in the world. However, they had only a temporary effect. The inconsistencies and contradictions of the transformations led to a gradual decrease in the growth of industrial production. Nevertheless, it was during this period that the Penza region turned into an industrial-agrarian region. A new city was built – “Penza-19” (now Zarechny city).