Main trends of developing trade in Bashkiria in 1947-1950

The article outlines the main trends in the development of trade in Bashkiria after the abolishment of the rationing system and corroborates these with quantitative indicators. The article is based on yet unpublished statistical materials and business records, which have undergone scientific scrutiny for the first time. These reflect the work of state-owned and cooperative trading organizations in the post-war period of economic recovery. Plans for developing the goods turnover were being fulfilled in difficult economic conditions and were influenced by a set of adverse factors. On the one hand, trade in Bashkiria experience a relapse to the rationing system as the management of trading organizations failed to respond to the changes in demand in cities and villages in time. On the other hand, all through the fourth five-year plan there were shortages of foodstuffs and manufactured goods, which was reflected in the records of the Ministry for Trade and the Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Bashkiria. This was due to the fact that industrial manufacturers regularly delayed shipments of goods to trading organizations. However, all those flaws do not take away from the incredible results of economic recovery in the sphere of trade in Bashkiria. This conclusion is supported by a steady growth of the goods turnover, by the growing range of manufactured goods and foodstuffs, by the growth of the retail network as well as the growing number of specialized shops. The research showed a considerable reduction of embezzlement and thefts in trading organizations and at the same time the increase of savings. The development of cooperative trade in Bashkiria proved that it was possible to create an effective trading system based on planned economy which was capable of meeting the demands of the majority.