New Economic Policy

It happened in Solnechnogorsk, 35 miles from Moscow and a world away from the casuistries of capitalism. The customer liked the saucepan. The price was right and she said she'd take it.

"That'll be $2.25," said the Soviet shopkeeper, speaking in kopecks.

"But it's marked only $1.65," protested the shopper.

"Oh," said the shopkeeper, "the rest is for these beautiful gold earrings. We never sell saucepans without earrings."

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