UDC

94(47).084.8+338.532.43(470.54)“1946”

DOI

10.17238/issn2227-6564.2019.2.14

Authors

Vladimir N. Mamyachenkov
Ural State University of Economics;
ul. 8 Marta/Narodnoy voli 62/45, Yekaterinburg, 620144, Russian Federation;
e-mail: mamyachenkov@mail.ru

Abstract

A large number of scholarly publications, including those by foreign authors, are devoted to the living conditions of the Soviet population during the early postwar years and to government measures that directly affected them. However, the Sverdlovsk Region has been little studied in this respect. This article dwells on the attitude of the people living in the Sverdlovsk Region as an integral part of the former Soviet Union toward one of the most important socio-economic measures of postwar history, namely, the state’s attempt to adjust commercial and ration prices. This measure was designed to ensure the convergence of high commercial and low ration prices as well as pave the way for subsequent abolition of both commercial prices and food rationing (which took place in December 1947). The process of price adjustment involved lowering of commercial prices while simultaneously increasing ration prices. The paper argues that the population was much more affected by the rise than by the fall in prices. This is evidenced by the statements of citizens about the price adjustment, which in most cases were clearly negative. It is noted here that as a result of the adjustment, Sverdlovsk regional economy saw adverse trends emerge. The author comes to the conclusion that the price adjustment was designed and implemented by the state with the aim to save food resources (primarily bread) and disguise price increase for the entire range of food products.

Keywords

Sverdlovsk Region, Middle Urals, price adjustment, commercial price, ration price

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