Were economic failings the main cause of the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe?

Important to think about here are the various ways 'Communism' and politics interacted. Are we talking about popular Communism 'from below' or an elite 'from above'? A good question will discuss the interaction between the two, and in doing so reveal how Communism worked, or how it didn't work in this case.Factors relevant to this question include the decline in Soviet productivity and the growth of national debt by 1989; the impact of this on shortages of popular goods for everyday people. These two are clearly linked. But think further, what other problems was Soviet bloc facing? - a lack of transparency in the secret services (Stasi and KGB); the failures of successive leaders such as Brezhnev and Andropov to deal with national and local concerns. These were all highlighted by Gorbachev's reforms. Clearly not all problems can be called purely 'economic'. I would argue the economic issues be encompassed in broader categories of moral-economic stagnation which are more general and relate to the USSR's position in the world. Examiners will look for some knowledge of the Cold War context and the role of other powers. Moving beyond simple economic categorisation will allow you to show nuanced knowledge and demonstrate just how complex the problems facing the USSR were in 1989. In short: Avoid being too narrow in your focus in a question like this, use it as a springboard to wider issues (but make sure you address specific concerns early on).