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386. How the Supermarket Helped America Win the Cold War

Freakonomics Radio

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Supermarkets and Cold War Agriculture

This chapter examines the evolution of supermarkets in America from the 1930s and their significant role in food distribution. It discusses the interplay between agricultural policies, technological advancements, and the capitalist narrative during the Cold War, highlighting U.S. efforts to showcase agricultural superiority against the Soviet Union. The chapter ultimately reveals how agricultural failures and supermarket dynamics contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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