BUCHAREST’S POSITION DURING THE RATIONING PERIOD. MANAGEMENT OF FOOD SUPPLY IN THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC (1948-1954) Cover Image

POZIŢIA BUCUREŞTIULUI ÎN ANII APROVIZIONĂRII RAŢIONALIZATE. GESTIUNEA RESURSELOR ALIMENTARE ÎN R.P.R. (1948-1954)
BUCHAREST’S POSITION DURING THE RATIONING PERIOD. MANAGEMENT OF FOOD SUPPLY IN THE ROMANIAN PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC (1948-1954)

Author(s): Marius Cazan
Subject(s): History
Published by: Societatea de Ştiinţe Istorice din România
Keywords: Bucharest; communism; food supply; rationalization; shortage;

Summary/Abstract: This article aims to analyze the way in which Romanian authorities managed to cope with the food shortages and how efficient was the rationalization system established during postwar years. Another aim of the article is to question to role played by the capital city, Bucharest, regarding the fairness of the allocation of resources. Why Bucharest received more and which were the mechanisms that allowed this drain of resources towards Bucharest? Even though in Bucharest the situation of food supply and consumption were at higher levels comparing with other cities, the everyday struggle for more groceries or better food cards shows that allocation of food resources wasn't enough and the gap between what the authorities were able to provide and the real demand of the citizenry was significant. In this context, we could say that in the first years of the communist regime in Romania the main issue regarding the distribution of food resources was how to manage shortages. Gradually, in the mid-1950s some political decisions made space for a more flexible policy regarding consumption and a slowdown of industrial investments.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 82
  • Page Range: 39-59
  • Page Count: 21