[PicassoCTs]

Time to hit the history books. 1980s the fear propaganda was still strong, but the three letter agencies had enough material to pass judgment on the USSR.

Example: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1240452

The USSR bought grain when its harvests failed during the 1970s - this is not the action of a superior system about to surpass you and replace you.

[AnimalMuppet]

The three letter agencies may have known better, but they weren't setting wages for the country. And, as you said, "the fear propaganda was still strong". So I don't think your position can logically work if 1979 is the year things started to change for wages.