Business Practice in Socialist Hungary, Volume 1: Creating the Theft Economy, 1945-1957

This study aims to reconstruct the activities of enterprises and individuals over two decades in one developing country (Hungary), within and across four politico-economic domains (agriculture, infrastructure/construction, commerce, and manufacturing), from the initial Stalinist obsession with heavy industry (Volume 1: Creating the Theft Economy, 1945-1957) through later reforms paying greater attention to profitable farming and the provision of abundant consumer goods (Volume 2: From Chaos to Contradiction, 1957-1972, forthcoming 2023). It provides hundreds of grounded, granular stories for reflection, as reported by actors and direct observers, ranging from innovation and improvisation to obstruction, failure, and fraud.

Format: Hardback
Length: 306 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive research project aims to reconstruct the activities of enterprises and individuals in one developing country, Hungary, over a span of two decades, encompassing four distinct politico-economic domains: agriculture, infrastructure/construction, commerce, and manufacturing. The study spans from the initial Stalinist obsession with heavy industry during the 1945-1957 period to subsequent reforms that prioritized profitable farming and the provision of abundant consumer goods during the 1957-1972 era, with a forthcoming Volume 2 scheduled for release in 2023.

The research offers a rich tapestry of grounded, granular stories, reported by actors and direct observers, encompassing a wide range of experiences, from innovation and improvisation to obstruction, failure, and fraud. By delving into the social history of enterprise and work in postwar Central European nations, this book seeks to challenge the prevailing narrative of reconstruction and breakneck industrialization under Soviet tutelage. Instead, it aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of what socialism actually looked like to those who sustained it, assessing how and where it worked and recounting how ordinary people responded to its opportunities and constraints.

The study will appeal to readers with a keen interest in exploring the day-to-day operations of businesses in a planned economy, examining how enterprise practices and technological strategies shifted during the first postwar generation. It will also shed light on the broader political and economic context that shaped these developments, providing valuable insights into the complex dynamics of socialism and its impact on individuals and society.

With its extensive research and rich narrative, this study is a valuable contribution to the field of social history and will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the complexities of postwar Central European history.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030891831
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022