 Such targets were part of the Five-Year Plans set by Gosplan to drive the Soviet economy, and they had to be met at the end of every year until the plan ended after 5 years.Meeting the plans at the end of each year resulted in a 25% bonus above typical salary; when the plan was exceeded by 20% or more, bonuses were 60% of usual.Additionally, if targets were exceeded and bonuses given to whaling crews, the next year’s target was raised to the level attained last year and more whales were expected to be caught, again regardless of the condition of the population.