Lev Abramovich Leontev

Born Apr. 27 (May 10), 1901, in Kaunas; died June 30, 1974, in Moscow. Soviet economist, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1939). Became a member of the CPSU in 1919.

From 1917 to 1921, Leont’ev was active in Komsomol work. He graduated from the Institute of the Red Professoriat in 1925 and taught political economy in a number of institutions of higher learning. From 1931 to 1957 he was active in scientific, pedagogical, and journalistic work. His most important writings analyze the subject and methods of political economy, study the political economy of capitalism and socialism, and provide a critique of bourgeois economic theories. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and various medals.