Part 2/11:
The economic system mirrored that of the Soviet era, characterized by stringent state control over production, prices, and trade. Farmers, in particular, suffered, forced to sell their crops at fixed prices that constrained agricultural productivity and contributed to an ongoing cycle of shortages. The dire situation culminated in hyperinflation, which peaked at over 700% in the mid-1980s, making essential goods unaffordable and propelling the nation toward economic destabilization.