Fair trade in Transbaikalia in the last third of 18th - the first quarter of 20th century: stages of development

As a result of distance barriers of Transbaikalia from industrial centers and the underdevelopment of communications, fair trade for a long time became the main form of commercial entrepreneurship. In its development, it went through three stages. The first was before the Trans-Siberian Railway construction, when, in the absence of stationary forms of trade, it experienced a period of flourishing and dominated completely. The second was after its construction, when fair volumes declined, fair trade was decentralized: a large number of small fairs in villages replaced the large fairs. However, in general, fair trade retained its value and even expanded the network. The task of rapid economic recovery after the Civil War demanded the revival of fair trade, in which private traders took the first positions. However, having played a role in the restoration of goods/money relationship, the fair form of trade was quickly curtailed in accordance with the policy of the struggle with private capital.