The only two "communist" states (read: state capitalist) that weren't affected were China and the USSR (we can debate about cuba perhaps, but they are largely involved in the US's foreign policy by proximity), and they had record highs in tech improvement, gdp, and all "markets" (while calling themselves communist), so I don't know how your thesis makes any sense.

Well, unless you learn that calling yourself a communist doesn't automatically make it true. Actions, of course, speak louder than words.