Page "Economy of Bulgaria" Paragraph 7

From the end of World War II until the widespread change of regime in Eastern Europe in November 1989, the Bulgarian Communist Party ( BCP ) exerted complete economic, social and political control in Bulgaria.

The party's ascent to power in 1944 had marked the beginning of economic change towards planned economy in Bulgaria.

After World War II, Bulgaria followed the Soviet model of economic development more closely than any other East Bloc country with becoming one of the first members of Comecon ; the new regime shifted the economy from mainly agrarian type towards industrial economy and much of the labour force from the countryside to the city, providing workers for new large-scale industrial complexes.

At the same time, the focus of Bulgarian international trade shifted from Central Europe to Eastern Europe and USSR.