CONVERSATION WITH RICHARD KAUFMAN, GENERAL COUNCIL JOINT, ECONOMIC COMMITTEE, 11 JUNE 1978

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000700010056-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: April 11, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2004/05/21 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R0007000006-3
11 April 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Conversation with Richard Kaufman, General
Council Joint,Economic Committee, 11 June 1978
1. I spoke to Richard Kaufman about: (1) the
unclassified information we could provide the JEC about
the CIA research effort on the Soviet economy and;
(2) our participation in a forthcoming JEC study on the
Middle East.
2. Senator Proxmire has requested information from
the DCI n the personnel and programs CIA devotes to the
study of' the Soviet economy. This information would be
part of a government-wide survey undertaken by the JEC as
a service to Congress and the public. Last year we
gave classified data on the number of personnel and on
expenditures. Kaufman indicated that this information
is of no use to the JEC and would much prefer to have
less information, but in unclassified form.
3. I agreed to give him a brief description of the
major reserach functions performed in CIA on the
Soviet economy together with lists of some of the
specific topics on which CIA has specialized
E
e wi al so provide a fisting of CIA's unclassified
studies on the Soviet economy and military expenditures
published during the'past six years.
4. The JEC is planning to publish a compendium of
articles on the economies of the Middle East early next
year. Drafts should'be ready by October or so of this
year. Kaufman and Rex Preiss, of the Library of Congress,
will organize the effort.
5. The volume will contain articles written both by
academics and government employees. At this very early
stage of planning Kaufman is just beginning to talk to
experts.in the field. He expects articles for the most
part to be rather basic, containing background information
on geography, natural resources, trade with the region
and outside, and economic development. He does not want
to focus on the oil problem, nor on the Arab/Israeli
STAT
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problem, although these obviously cannot be ignored. The
principal theme will be the use of oil money since 1973
by the.Middle East countries to develop their economies.
6. I promised two papers: one on the Soviet and
East European economic role in the Middle East. The
other on the changing international trade patterns of
the Middle East countries since.1973.
25X1
Distribution;
Orig - OD/OER File
1 - OLC
1 -
1 - Director, OSR
1 - Ch/D/U
1 - Ch/D/D
OD/OER/MCErnst/cap/
MAURICE C. ERNST
Director
Economic. Research
(11 Apr '78)
Approved For Release 2004/05/21 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R000700010056-3