Baby carriages alongside a queue in front of a grocery shop.

The centrally planned economy introduced by the communist government did not tolerate private property in industry or services. In most countries behind the Iron Curtain, agriculture was also nationalized. The exception was Poland, although here, agricultural prices were still imposed by the state. The communists’ policies led to the loss of profitability and innovation in industry, a lowering of the level of services, and food rationing.