Free economic society was created for distribution (cm)? History of the VEO of Russia Formation of a free economic society

23.06.2020

Free Economic Society (VEO), one of the oldest in the world and the first economic society in Russia (free - formally independent of government departments).

Free Economic Society (VEO), one of the oldest in the world and the first economic society in Russia (free - formally independent of government departments). It was established in St. Petersburg in 1765 by large landowners who, in the conditions of the growth of the market and commercial agriculture, sought to rationalize agriculture and increase the productivity of serf labor. The foundation of the VEO was one of the manifestations of the policy of enlightened absolutism. The VEO began its activity by announcing competitive tasks, publishing the Proceedings of the VEO (1766-1915, over 280 volumes) and appendices to them. The first competition was announced at the initiative of Catherine II in 1766: "What is the property of the farmer (peasant) in the land he cultivates, or in movables, and what right can he have for both for the benefit of the people?" Of the 160 responses by Russian and foreign authors, Op. jurist A. Ya. Polenov, who criticized serfdom. The answer aroused dissatisfaction with the competition committee of the VEO and was not published. Until 1861, 243 competitive problems of a political, economic, scientific and economic nature were announced. Political and economic issues concerned 3 problems: 1) land ownership and serf relations, 2) the comparative advantage of corvée and dues, 3) the use of hired labor in agriculture.

The Society published the first statistical and geographical studies of Russia. VEO competitions, periodicals contributed to the introduction of industrial crops, improved agricultural tools, the development of animal husbandry (especially sheep breeding), beekeeping, sericulture, sugar beet, distillery, linen industry in patrimonial farms in agriculture. At the end of the 18th century Agronomists A. T. Bolotov, I. M. Komov, V. A. Levshin, scientist A. A. Nartov, famous politician M. I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, Admiral A. I. Sinyavin, poet G. R. Derzhavin. In the 1st half of the 19th century. N. S. Mordvinov, K. D. Kavelin, and I. V. Vernadsky took an active part in its work. In the post-reform period, the VEO played an advanced social role and was one of the centers of economic thought of the liberal landowners and the bourgeoisie. In the 60-70s. discussed the development of the peasant land community. In the late 90s. in the VEO there were public disputes between "legal Marxists" and populists about the "destiny of capitalism" in Russia. In the 60-80s. society conducted a large scientific agronomic activity. In 1861-1915 D. I. Mendeleev, V. V. Dokuchaev, A. M. Butlerov, A. N. Beketov, P. P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, Yu. E. Yanson, N. F. Annensky, M. M. Kovalevsky, L. N. Tolstoy, A. B. Struve, M. I. Tugan-Baranovsky, O. D. Forsh, E. V. Tarle.

In 1900, the tsarist government launched an offensive against the VEO, seeking to turn it into a narrow technical and agronomic institution. The famine relief committees (founded in the 1990s) and the literacy committee (founded in 1861) were closed, a demand was put forward to revise the charter of the society, and unauthorized persons were banned from attending VEO meetings. Despite this, the VEO in 1905-1906 published reviews of the agrarian movement in Russia, in 1907-11 questionnaires on the attitude of the peasantry to the Stolypin agrarian reform. In 1915 the activities of the VEO actually ceased, in 1919 the society was formally liquidated.

Lit .: A. I. Khodnev, History of the Imperial Free Economic Society from 1765 to 1865, St. Petersburg, 1865; Beketov A.N., Historical sketch of the 25-year activity of the Imperial Free Economic Society from 1865 to 1890, St. Petersburg. 1890; Kovalevsky M. M., On the 150th anniversary of the Imperial Free Economic Society, "Bulletin of Europe", 1915, book. 12; Bak I. S., A. Ya. Polenov, in: Historical notes, vol. 28, [M.], 1949; Oreshkin V. I., Free economic society in Russia (1765-1917), Historical and economic essay, M., 1963.

History of VEO of Russia

In 1765, a group of well-known people in Russia (Count Vorontsov, Prince Grigory Orlov, Count Chernyshev, Olsufiev and others) sent a letter to Empress Catherine II with the following content:

Most Merciful, Most Sovereign, Great - Wise Empress and Autocrat of All Russia, Most Gracious Sovereign!

The reign of Your IMPERIAL MAJESTY is the plan for the fatherland, in which our bliss is visibly accomplished. With Your Majesty's tireless work and care for affairs, the integrity and well-being of the Empire that make up, apparently, your patronage acts so much on the Sciences and Arts; and this encourages the subjects of your hearts lovers in teaching themselves and in enlightening others. In view of this, we all subjects will unite by voluntary agreement to establish a meeting between us, in which we intend to work together to improve agriculture and house building. Our zeal and zeal, no matter how great, but when they are not backed up by the patronage of the Monarch, then our work will be without implementation.

Members of the Free Economic Society

In a response, Catherine wrote:

Gentlemen members of the Free Economic Society,

The intention you have undertaken to improve agriculture and house-building is very pleasing to Us, and the labors resulting from it will be direct evidence of your true zeal and love for your Fatherland. Your plan and charter, which you have pledged to each other, WE praise and, in agreement with the most merciful, test that you have called yourself the Free Economic Society. Please be trustworthy that WE accept it in Our special patronage; for the seal you request, we not only allow you to use in all cases, with your labors, Our Imperial coat of arms, but also as a sign of Our excellent goodwill towards you, we allow you to put our own motto inside it, bringing honey to the bee hive with the inscription Useful. On top of this, we also grant your most merciful society six thousand rubles for hiring a decent house, both for your collection and for the establishment of an Economic Library in it. Your work, with God's help, will be rewarded to you and your descendants by your own benefit, and WE, to the extent of your Diligence to multiply, will not leave Our Grace to you.

Catherine October 31 days 1765

The indicated date on the letter is considered the beginning of the existence of the world's oldest and the first in our country scientific and public organization.

The first Charter of the Society said: "There is no more convenient means of increasing the welfare of the people in any state than to try to bring the economy to a better state, showing the proper ways in which natural products are used with greater benefit and former shortcomings can be corrected." In the future, the goals and objectives of the VEO were repeatedly refined and expanded in the direction of the general economic, covering not only agriculture, but also industry. From its first meetings, the Society placed research at the center of its activities, thereby laying the foundation for the study of the economic life of the country. In one of the early documents of the VEO, it was noted: "What is not in Russia - everything you need is found; you need to use what is offered in nature, you need knowledge, diligence and review ...".

In 1766, the VEO held the first competition on the question sent by Catherine II: "What is the property of the farmer - is it in the land that he cultivates, or in movables, and what right can he have for both for the benefit of the people?" In the future, various competitions on political economy and applied agricultural and technical problems were held regularly: in the first century of the Society's work alone, 243 tasks were announced, among which one can highlight the competition of 1796 for compiling the "People's Encyclopedia" in order to popularize scientific knowledge.

From the first days of the life of the VEO, practical work also unfolded - the free distribution of seeds, the introduction of potato culture, hitherto unknown to Russians. In 1766, the Society raised the issue of spare stores and public plowing. Soon, VEO also began to manufacture an anti-smallpox vaccine for the population. However, economic analytics remained the main activity of the VEO.

In 1790, the Society developed and published an extensive program of local research entitled: "Inscription for the everlasting task and rewarding of those writings that economic descriptions of private Russian governorships will inform him." In 1801, the VEO achieved the highest order to "force the governors to answer", and since 1829 it has been collecting the necessary information from the landowners and the clergy. In 1847, the Society collected and published data on the prices of bread, on forests and the timber industry, two years later it sent a special expedition to collect information about the black earth zone, and in 1853 it published materials on agricultural statistics.

On the day of its 100th anniversary, the VEO organized a congress of rural owners of Russia, at which the question was comprehensively discussed: "What should be the measures for the study of Russia in economic terms, and what participation can be taken in this matter, both by the Free Economic Society and others scientists". The following year, together with the Geographical Society, an extensive study of the grain trade and productivity in Russia was undertaken, which resulted in a number of scientific works (Barkovsky, Janson, Bezobrazov and others).

Since 1870, the VEO began to study the activities of zemstvos and published a special Zemsky Yearbook, and in 1877 undertook a study of the Russian community, culminating in the publication of a solid collection. In 1889, the Society conducted a study of the arrears of peasants on the example of one of the districts of the Russian hinterland, in 1896-98 - a study of the agricultural artels of the Kherson province. At the same time, according to the reports of Chuprov, Posnikov, Annensky, the question of the influence of harvests on various aspects of economic life was studied, according to the reports of Tugan-Baranovsky and Struve, the question of the direction of Russia's economic development was debated.

The financial problems of the country were also in the field of view of the members of the Society. In 1886, the VEO raised the issue of income tax, in 1893 it sharply protested against the salt tax, in 1896 it discussed a draft monetary reform in Russia, and in 1898 it petitioned for a revision of customs tariffs.

Since the 1920s, the Society has been actively involved in agricultural education. In 1833, Emperor Nicholas I granted him capital, for which rural teachers had been preparing for a long time. For many years, VEO maintained its own agricultural school, beekeeping school, had its own workshop and even a museum. Being engaged in the development of problems of soil science, the Society summarized the well-known works of Dokuchaev in the book "Russian Chernozem".

The Society paid much attention to the issues of statistics, developing the methodology and ways of organizing the appraisal business. In 1900, a congress of zemstvo statisticians gathered at the special statistical commission of the VEO.

Since 1849, under the auspices of the VEO, numerous exhibitions have been held: herd cattle, dairy farming, agricultural tools and machines, dried fruits and vegetables, etc. In 1850 and 1860, the Society organized exhibitions of "rural works" on an all-Russian scale. At several international and world exhibitions (Paris, 1878, 1889; Prague, 1879; Chicago, 1893 and others), VEO expositions were awarded the highest awards.

At various times, among the members of the Society were such outstanding scientists as Beketov, Vernadsky, Lesgaft, Mendeleev, famous travelers - Bellingshausen, Krusenstern, Litke, Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, writers - Derzhavin, Stasov, Tolstoy. In 1909, the VEO had more than 500 members, and there were correspondents in a number of foreign countries. The Society existed at the expense of government subsidies, numerous private donations and membership fees, had its own house in St. Petersburg, at one time owned part of Petrovsky Island and an experimental farm on the Okhta River.

The privileged position of the VEO and the rights given to it were confirmed by each of the successors of Catherine II (with the exception of Paul I) upon their accession to the throne. In the last royal rescript, given on November 21, 1894, attention was drawn to the useful activity of the Society and goodwill was declared for its labors.

From the second half of the 1890s, the period of the rapid flourishing of the Society's activities was replaced by a time of growing decline, which was facilitated by the liberal moods of some of its members, which caused dissatisfaction with the authorities. In 1895, the "unreliable" Literacy Committee was torn away from the VEO, in 1898 the Committee for Assistance to the Starving, which operated under the Society, was closed, some publications of the VEO were banned, and the minutes of its meetings were confiscated. In 1900, the authorities banned public meetings of the Society, put its work under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property, and demanded that the Charter be revised towards narrow practical issues. The VEO actually curtailed its work, restoring it in full only after the tsar's Manifesto of 1905.

When the First World War broke out, the VEO organized assistance to the victims of the war, at the same time discussing the issues of the state wartime budget and the situation of economic disorder. During one of these meetings in 1915, the activities of the Society were suddenly interrupted and banned. After the February Revolution of 1917, the VEO became active again, under it even the Petrograd branch of the League of Agrarian Reforms was created. However, after the October Revolution, there was no place at all for the Society with "free" principles. The complete cessation of any subsidies and political persecution hastened its collapse, recorded in 1919. Only many years later, in 1963, the Society, which had done so much for the good of the Fatherland, was remembered in connection with a letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU from the historian A.P. Berdyshev, who proposed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the VEO. But functionaries from the Central Committee of the CPSU and VASKhNIL blocked the initiative, considering it "unreasonable."

The social traditions of Russian economists really began to revive only in 1982, when the Scientific and Economic Society (SEO) arose, which created its branches in all regions of the then USSR. The initiative to create the NEO belonged to Academician T.S. Khachaturov. In 1987, with the active participation of Pavlov V.S. - President of the VEO, a major statesman and scientist - the NEO was transformed into the All-Union Economic Society. In 1992, the historical name of the Free Economic Society of Russia was returned to the organization of economists. The VEO of Russia is the spiritual successor and continuer of the traditions of the Imperial Free Economic Society, which is legally enshrined. A huge contribution to the formation of the Society's activities rightfully belongs to the President of the VEO of Russia, Professor G.Kh. Popov.

VEO today is an organization that has branches in almost all regions of Russia. The Society unites more than 11 thousand organizations, about 300 thousand economists and practitioners, employees of state, public enterprises and organizations, new economic structures. Members of the VEO of Russia have joined forces to form public opinion on the most important issues of the country's economic development, actively cooperate with government agencies, evaluate various projects and programs, conduct research work, advise representatives of federal, regional and local authorities on issues of current economic policy. The activities of the Free Economic Society of Russia found understanding and support among the top leaders of the country. The reputation of the VEO of Russia is indisputable.

The VEO of Russia conducts major research, participates in international forums and conferences. Among them are the All-Russian Forum "Problems of Long-term Development of the Russian Economy" in the Kremlin, round tables "Economic Growth of Russia" under the leadership of the Vice-President of the VEO of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences L.I. Abalkinav in the House of Economist, research cycle "Problems of national and international economic security", "Anti-crisis management in the banking and industrial sector", International congresses on interregional cooperation.

The VEO of Russia is the initiator of the creation of the International Union of Economists, being its member, the Society carries out significant work to promote the economic and social progress of the world community, participates in the development of interregional programs of the UN, UNESCO, the European Union, and the Pacific Cooperation Council. The VEO of Russia also actively cooperates with foreign non-governmental structures, enterprises, foundations, and scientists. We can name such programs of the VEO of Russia, implemented in cooperation with international organizations, as "Problems of employment", "Problems of investments, development of the financial and banking system", "Environmental problems of safe and sustainable development of the world economy", the forum "World experience and economics". Russia".

Members of the VEO of Russia are actively working to train a new generation of economists. The Society has developed the concept of teaching the basics of economics in schools, since this science has not yet been included in the curriculum of compulsory secondary education. Schoolchildren, students and graduate students have the opportunity to submit their scientific papers on economic issues to the All-Russian competition of young economists held by the society on the topic “Economic growth of Russia”. It is very popular not only in Moscow, but also in the regions - more than 4.5 thousand people enter the jury. The winners of the competition receive not only substantial monetary awards, but also the opportunity to publish their essays in a separate volume of the Proceedings of the Free Economic Society. The Association of Young Economists was formed under the VEO of Russia and began to work actively.

The Free Economic Society of Russia works both for the future and for the present. In this regard, the Russian competition "Manager of the Year" organized by the VEO of Russia and the International Academy of Management with the support of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation is of particular importance. The holding of such a competition is not just a selection of the best representatives from the corps of managers, it is a serious occasion for understanding the path traveled, developing guidelines for the further development of the Russian economy. This competition is designed to help improve management efficiency. Its organizers see the objectives of the competition in identifying the elite of the Russian management corps, disseminating the experience of effective leadership. The jury, which included ministers of various industries, their deputies, directors of large enterprises, scientists, is headed by the Honorary Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation E.S. Stroev.

Members of the Society give lectures, conduct seminars for managers, accountants, heads of marketing services and other employees of various companies. These advanced training programs improve the efficiency of enterprises and organizations.

The VEO of Russia, like the pre-revolutionary Imperial Society, is actively involved in publishing. To the 90th anniversary of T.S. Khachaturov published a collection of his works, to the 70th anniversary of L.I. Abalkin published a four-volume edition of his works, together with the International Union of Economists and the International Academy of Management, a newsletter "Economy" is published. Since 1994, the annual publication of the "Proceedings" of the society has been resumed. More than 40 scientific volumes have already been published. It must be said that from 1982 to 2002 the VEO of Russia published almost as many scientific papers as the Imperial Society during the 152 years of its existence from 1765 to 1917. The “Bibliographic Directory of VEO Publications” has been published, a unique collection containing information about all publications of the Society from 1765 to the present, including publications of all regional organizations of the VEO of Russia. The VEO of Russia published the newspaper "Byloe", for several years the newspaper "Economic News of Russia and the Commonwealth" and the collection of normative acts "Documents" have been published. The total annual circulation of scientific papers, newspaper magazines published by the Free Economic Society of Russia and the International Union of Economists is 11 million copies of printed matter. A gallery of portraits of all the presidents of the VEO has been created and a book-album of biographies of the presidents of the VEO has been published on the basis of serious archival research (in Russian and English).

The Imperial Free Economic Society - the oldest economic public organization in Russia, one of the oldest public associations in Europe - was created in 1765 by decree of Empress Catherine II.

The society was established as an organization independent of the government, which is why it was called "free". The privileged position of the VEO and the rights given to it were confirmed by each of the successors of Catherine II upon their accession to the throne. Many undertakings of the Society received financial support from the state treasury.

During the creation of the Society, the traditional Russian idea of the primacy of the interests of the country was implemented, while it was openly and fundamentally declared that economic activity and its efficiency should become the basis for the development of Russia. The Charter of 1765 stated that the purpose of the Society was to take care of "the increment in the state of the people's well-being", for which it was necessary "to try to bring the economy to a better state."

The initiative to create the Society belonged primarily to M.V. Lomonosov and a group of scientists and courtiers, closely associated with the circles of the liberal nobility, interested in the development of the money economy, national industry, who raised the issue of the need to abolish serfdom. Elizabeth Petrovna, who reigned at that time, did not pay due attention to the initiative of M.V. Lomonosov and already Catherine II brings this idea to life.

The Society began its scientific activity with a competition on the topic "What right to land should a landowner have for public benefit". 160 specialists from many countries of the world participated in the competition.

The society had great merits before the Russian state. It became the initiator of the abolition of serfdom, the introduction of universal primary education, the ancestor of Russian statistics, the spread of new varieties of agricultural crops in the country, and incl. potatoes, the formation of the domestic cheese industry and much more.

The society published the "Proceedings" of the Free Economic Society, on the pages of which projects were published for "improving" agriculture, raising the productive forces of industrial enterprises, etc. The Free Economic Society published 280 volumes of the "Proceedings", published 9 other special periodicals, distributed them free of charge throughout Russia millions of copies of books and pamphlets, including 126 editions of his Literacy Committee. Four volumes of "Proceedings of expeditions equipped by the Imperial Free Economic Society and the Russian Geographical Society for the study of grain trade and productivity in Russia" were published. About 200,000 books, a unique collection of zemstvo publications (over 40,000 books and brochures) were collected in the Society's library.

Such prominent scientists and public figures of Russia as A.M. Butlerov, N.V. Vereshchagin, G.R. Derzhavin, V.V. Dokuchaev, V.G. Korolenko, I.F. Kruzenshtern, D.I. Mendeleev, A.A. Nartov, A.N. Sinyavin, P.P. Semenov-Tyanshansky, A.S. Stroganov, L.N. Tolstoy, A. and L. Euler and many others.

During World War I, when it was necessary to mobilize the reserves of the state, a Special Commission was created in the Society for the needs of the war. The famous Voentorg in Moscow was created by the VEO at its own expense in order to sell goods cheaper to all officers who participated in hostilities.

The World War and subsequent revolutionary upheavals in Russia significantly affected the work of the Society, and after the February Revolution of 1917, the first public organization of Russian economists practically ceased to exist.

The revival of the public association of economists began in the 1970s, when interest in the profession of an economist, in economic activity, revived again. At this time, economists received their own organization - the Scientific and Economic Society (SEO) was created, which had its branches in all regions of the Russian Federation and the union republics of the USSR. In 1987, the NEO was transformed into the All-Union Economic Society.

In 1992, the Russian public organization of economists was returned to its historical name - the Free Economic Society of Russia. A huge contribution to the formation of the Society's activities rightfully belongs to the President of the VEO of Russia, Professor G.Kh. Popov.

VEO of Russia operates in all regions of Russia. About 300,000 scientists and specialists are united in its 60 republican, regional, regional and city organizations.

The VEO of Russia aims, using historical experience, to take on a leading integrating role in understanding the problems of the development of the national economy of Russia, the formation of Russian entrepreneurship, the formation of business ethics and entrepreneurship.

The activities of the VEO of Russia are aimed at the active participation of the Society's activists - many thousands of scientists, economists and practitioners, employees of state, public enterprises and organizations, new economic structures in solving the actual socio-economic development of Russia and all its regions.

The main areas of activity are the theoretical development of various aspects of economic reform, the development of alternative draft laws and regulations, assistance to the regions of the country in the transition to market relations, and raising the level of economic knowledge of the population and young people in particular.

VEO of Russia carries out major regional economic research programs. Among them:

The permanent Round Table "Russia on the Threshold of the 21st Century", whose work makes it possible to comprehend the situation in Russian society on the eve of the coming millennium and to develop proposals for a strategy for the country's economic development;

Research cycle "Problems of national and international economic security", which resulted in recommendations on a wide range of issues of the country's economic security at the regional, federal, international levels;

Creative meetings "Historical cities of Russia" and "Milestones of Russian history";

Programs "Development of small and medium business" and "Actual problems of development of women's entrepreneurship".

The VEO of Russia resumed publishing "Scientific Works". In 1994 - 1997 4 volumes of scientific papers were published on the most pressing issues of the transformation of the Russian economy, Russia's integration into the world economic community, the history and experience of managing our country.

As part of the publication of Scientific Works, the VEO of Russia publishes the works of outstanding Russian economists of the 20th century. A thematic series "Proceedings of Russian scientists published abroad" is being published. Among the publications of the VEO of Russia are the collection "Economic Bulletin of Russia" and the monthly "The Past: History and Management Experience", information and analytical materials. A large amount of publishing activity is carried out by the regional organizations of the Society.

The VEO of Russia revived the tradition of holding national reviews and competitions. In 1997, the Society, together with the Government of Moscow, held competitions of scientific papers on economic issues for young scientists, students and schoolchildren on the topic "Russia on the Threshold of the 21st Century". Taking into account that 1997 is the year of the 850th anniversary of the founding of Moscow, a special topic "Moscow - the center of Russia's socio-economic development: analysis of the state and prospects" was singled out within the framework of the competition.

As a collective member of the International Union of Economists, the Society works to promote the economic and social progress of the world community and, first of all, to develop Russia's integration ties in the modern system of the world economy.

Among the projects of this group, such programs of the VEO of Russia as "Problems of employment of the population", "Problems of investments, development of the financial and banking system", "Problems of the Caspian Sea: directions, priorities and solutions", "Environmental problems of safe and sustainable development of the world economy" can be distinguished , "Factors and conditions of economic growth", etc.

The initiatives of the Free Economic Society of Russia received the support and approval of the President and Government of the Russian Federation.

VEO emblems
previous years

In 1765, a group of well-known figures in Russia (Count R.I. Vorontsov, Prince G.G. Orlov, Count I.G. Chernyshev, Senator A.V. Olsufiev and others) sent a letter to Empress Catherine II with the following content:

Most Merciful, Most Sovereign, Great - Wise Empress and Autocrat of All Russia, Most Merciful Sovereign!
The reign of Your IMPERIAL MAJESTY is the plan for the fatherland, in which our bliss is visibly accomplished. With Your Majesty's tireless work and care for affairs, the integrity and well-being of the Empire that make up, apparently, your patronage acts so much on the Sciences and Arts; and this encourages the subjects of your hearts lovers in teaching themselves and in enlightening others. In view of this, we all subjects will unite by voluntary agreement to establish a meeting between us, in which we intend to work together to improve agriculture and house building. Our zeal and zeal, no matter how great, but when they are not backed up by the patronage of the Monarch, then our work will be without implementation.
Members of the Free Economic Society

In a response, Catherine wrote:

Gentlemen members of the Free Economic Society,
The intention you have undertaken to improve agriculture and house-building is very pleasing to Us, and the labors resulting from it will be direct evidence of your true zeal and love for your Fatherland. Your plan and charter, which you have pledged to each other, WE praise and, in agreement with the most merciful, test that you have called yourself the Free Economic Society. Please be trustworthy that WE accept it in Our special patronage; for the seal you request, we not only allow you to use in all cases, with your labors, Our Imperial coat of arms, but also as a sign of Our excellent goodwill towards you, we allow you to put your own Our motto , bees in the hive bringing honey with the inscription Useful. On top of this, we also grant your most merciful society six thousand rubles for hiring a decent house, both for your collection and for the establishment of an Economic Library in it. Your work, with God's help, will be rewarded to you and your descendants by your own benefit, and WE will not leave Our Grace to you, as you strive to multiply.
Catherine
October 31 days
1765

The indicated date on the letter is considered the beginning of the existence of the world's oldest scientific and public organization, the first institution of civil society in Russia.

Founders of the Imperial Free Economic Society

Expressing full agreement with the program and charter of the organization, she approved the name - "Imperial Free Economic Society of Russia." And as a token of good will, she allowed her coat of arms and motto to be used in the symbols of the Society: “Bees that bring honey to the hive” with the inscription: “useful”.

Catherine II defined two main principles of the activity of the VEO: to be "Imperial" (sovereign)- serve the Russian state; to be "Free"- provide an independent and objective approach, representing a variety of points of view, uniting for this the constructive forces of the country: from the ruling to the opposition.

A prominent role in the fate of the VEO of Russia was played by outstanding economists, scientists, educators, statesmen who were members of the Society in different years: Leonard Euler, Dmitry Mendeleev, Andrei Nartov, Nikolai Beketov, Samuel Gmelin, Mikhail Kutuzov, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Ivan Krusenstern, Nikolai Miklukho -Maclay, Gavriil Derzhavin, Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Radishchev, Nikolai Mordvinov, Grigory Orlov, Roman Vorontsov, Mikhail Speransky, Pyotr Stolypin, Sergei Witte. The VEO of Russia had great merits to the Russian state, served the purposes and practical affairs of enlightenment. The first Charter of the Society stated: “There is no more convenient means to increase in any state of the people’s welfare than to try to bring the economy to a better state, showing the proper ways in which natural products are used with greater benefit and former shortcomings can be corrected.” Society determined not only the pressing problems in the economic life of the country, but also the ways of solving these problems. The practical impact of the activities of the Society, its focus on effective reform, on the dissemination of new methods and technologies were no less important than the theoretical studies of the members of the VEO.

An effective system of organizational measures was developed to encourage creative search in the VEO:
- announcement of competitive tasks and awarding the winners with medals and cash prizes. Already in 1766, the VEO held the first competition on the question sent by Catherine II: “What is the property of the farmer - is it in the land that he cultivates, or in movables, and what right can he have for both for the benefit of the people?”. This competition marked the beginning of future social and economic reforms in Russia;
- study by well-known experts and even commissions of proposals of domestic inventors. At the same time, complex projects were subjected to many years of testing in different natural and climatic zones and by various persons specially invited for this work;
- organization of exhibitions and sales of the latest agricultural machinery. In the second half of the XIX century. agricultural exhibitions began to be arranged not only by provincial government bodies and societies, but also by county ones;
- and much more.

From the first days of the life of the VEO, practical work has also unfolded- free distribution of seeds, the introduction of potato culture, hitherto unknown to Russians. In 1766, the Society raised the issue of spare stores and public plowing. Soon, VEO also began to manufacture an anti-smallpox vaccine for the population. However, economic analytics remained the main activity of the VEO.

In 1801, Alexander I issued an imperial decree addressed to the governors, requiring them to fulfill the tasks of the Free Economic Society in order to work together for the good of Russia. At the direction of Nicholas I, the VEO prepared a conclusion on the effectiveness of the introduction of technical achievements in the Russian economy, from the 20s of the XIX century, the Society was actively involved in agricultural education, for this purpose in 1833 Emperor Nicholas I granted VEO capital, which the VEO used to train rural teachers .

In 1790, the Society developed and published an extensive program of local research under the title: "Inscription for the everlasting task and rewarding of those writings that economic descriptions of private Russian governorships will inform him." In 1801, the VEO achieved the highest order to “compel governors to answers”, and since 1829 it has been collecting the necessary information from the landowners and the clergy. In 1847, the Society collected and published data on the prices of bread, on forests and the timber industry, two years later it sent a special expedition to collect information about the black earth zone, and in 1853 it published materials on agricultural statistics.

On the day of its 100th anniversary, the VEO organized a congress of rural farmers of Russia, at which the question was comprehensively discussed: “What should be the measures for the study of Russia in economic terms, and what participation can both the Free Economic Society and others take in this matter? scientists". The following year, together with the Geographical Society, an extensive study of the grain trade and productivity in Russia was undertaken, which resulted in a number of scientific works (Barkovsky, Janson, Bezobrazov and others).

Since 1870, the VEO began to study the activities of zemstvos and published a special "Zemsky Yearbook", and in 1877 undertook a study of the Russian community, culminating in the publication of a solid collection. In 1889, the Society conducted a study of the arrears of peasants on the example of one of the districts of the Russian hinterland, in 1896-1898 a study of agricultural artels of the Kherson province was carried out. At the same time, according to the reports of Chuprov, Posnikov, Annensky, the question of the influence of harvests on various aspects of economic life was studied, according to the reports of Tugan-Baranovsky and Struve, the question of the direction of Russia's economic development was debated.

Since the 1920s, the Society has been actively involved in agricultural education. For many years, VEO maintained its own agricultural school, beekeeping school, had its own workshop and even a museum. Being engaged in the development of problems of soil science, the Society summarized the well-known works of Dokuchaev in the book "Russian Chernozem".

Among the most significant achievements of the VEO, which were of particular importance for the development of the country, the following should be noted: the members of the Society initiated the abolition of serfdom, the introduction of universal primary education, and developed a reform mechanism implemented by Alexander II. The society became the ancestor of Russian statistics, the initiator of the spread of new varieties of agricultural crops in the country, the development of soil science, the formation of the domestic cheese industry, and much more.

In 1909, the VEO had more than 500 members, and there were correspondents in a number of foreign countries. The Society existed at the expense of government subsidies, numerous private donations and membership fees, had its own house in St. Petersburg, at one time owned part of Petrovsky Island and an experimental farm on the Okhta River.

All scientific and practical activities of the VEO are reflected in the Proceedings of the Imperial Free Economic Society (281 editions), published from its very foundation until 1915, not counting over 150 separate essays on various issues and publications of the Literacy Committee, which worked under the Society from 1861 to 1895 year. In addition, under the auspices of the VEO, periodicals were published at different times: “Economic News”, “Circle of Economic Information”, “Atlas of the Museum of the Imperial Free Economic Society”, “Forest Journal”, “Economic Notes”, “Russian Beekeeping Leaf” and others .
The privileged position of the VEO and the rights given to it were confirmed by each of the successors of Catherine II (with the exception of Paul I) upon their accession to the throne. In the last royal rescript, given on November 21, 1894, attention was drawn to the useful activity of the Society and goodwill was declared for its labors.

From the second half of the 1890s, the period of the rapid flourishing of the Society's activities was replaced by a time of growing decline, which was facilitated by the liberal moods of some of its members, which caused dissatisfaction with the authorities. In 1895, the “unreliable” Literacy Committee was rejected from the VEO, in 1898 the Committee for Assistance to the Starving, which operated under the Society, was closed, some publications of the VEO were banned, and the minutes of its meetings were confiscated. In 1900, the authorities banned public meetings of the Society, put its work under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and State Property, and demanded that the Charter be revised towards narrow practical issues. The VEO actually curtailed its work, restoring it in full only after the tsar's Manifesto of 1905.

When the First World War broke out, the VEO organized assistance to the victims of the war, at the same time discussing the issues of the state wartime budget and the situation of economic disorder. During one of these meetings in 1915, the activities of the Society were suddenly interrupted and banned. After the February Revolution of 1917, the VEO became active again, under it even the Petrograd branch of the League of Agrarian Reforms was created. In 1919, the first public organization of Russian economists ceased to exist. Only many years later, in 1963, the Society, which had done so much for the good of the Fatherland, was remembered in connection with a letter to the Central Committee of the CPSU from the historian A.P. Berdyshev, who proposed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the VEO. But functionaries from the Central Committee of the CPSU and VASKhNIL blocked the initiative, considering it "inappropriate."

The revival of the Society began in the 1980s, when there was a renewed interest in the profession of an economist. At this time, the Scientific and Economic Society was created, which at the II Congress was renamed the All-Union Economic Society. In 1988, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR "Issues of the All-Union Economic Society" was issued. Outstanding scientists, practical economists, academicians L.I. Abalkin, A.G. Aganbegyan, A.Yu. Ishlinsky, N.Ya. Petrakov, T.S. Khachaturov, S.S. Shatalin; Professor G.Kh. Popov, P.G. Bunich, N.N. Gritsenko, O.V. Kozlova, V.N. Kirichenko, A.M. Rumyantsev, A.D. Sheremet, V.N. Cherkovets, E.G. Yasin; heads of state structures (planning, financial, statistical and other economic departments): N.V. Belov, A.I. Lebed, N.P. Lebedinsky, N.V. Garetovsky, L.A. Kostin, V.S. Pavlov, N.I. Ryzhkov, V.I. Shcherbakov and many others.

In 1992, the historical name of the Free Economic Society of Russia was returned to the organization of economists. The VEO of Russia is the spiritual successor and continuer of the traditions of the Imperial Free Economic Society, which is legally enshrined in the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.

A huge contribution to the formation of the Society's activities rightfully belongs to the President of the VEO of Russia, Professor G. Kh. Popov.

In Russia, the first attempts were made to apply new methods, technologies, scientific achievements for the development of agricultural production. To this end, in October 1765, it was created Free Economic Society- the first in Russia and one of the world's first economic public organizations.

The founders of the Free Economic Society were a group of large landowners, among whom were Count R. Vorontsov, Count G. Orlov, Count I. Chernyshev, Senator A. Olsufiev and others. The organization received its name not by chance. Its creators, putting the word “free” in the title, emphasized that the society does not depend on the government, does not participate in any political movements, but “is guided in its activities only by the good of the Fatherland, supporting the mental and spiritual potential of Russia. The word "economic" indicated the area of life that society sought to improve. Its task was to disseminate scientific knowledge in the field of management, and above all agronomy, as well as to stimulate all kinds of research in this direction.

The "Proceedings" of the Free Economic Society were published. In the XVIII century. 52 volumes were published, and in total, 280 of them were published during the existence of the society. The “Works” became no less popular among the reading public than the works of French enlighteners and literary magazines. They covered the results of scientific research in various areas of the economy, talked about new technology, and gave recommendations on how to manage the economy.

For example, the first volume contains 17 articles: “On sowing forests”, “Ways to seek water in waterless places”, “Method of hardening steel”, “On the release of wheat overseas”, “On the construction of living quarters for ordinary people”, etc. . material from the site

During the reign of Catherine II (second half of the 18th century)

The activities of the Free Economic Society in the second half of the 18th century under the conditions of the serfdom did not lead to significant results. Only in a few estates did the landlords attempt to introduce a multi-field crop rotation and began to use agricultural machinery along with the traditional labor of serfs.

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The Free Economic Society was created in order to disseminate among the nobility progressive ideas for organizing agricultural work in order to increase productivity and make labor more rational. The society was founded on November 11, 1765 and was under the auspices of Catherine II (it was the first scientific society in Russia), as part of the implementation of the ideas of enlightened absolutism. Members of the society published books, magazines, held exhibitions. The article is devoted to the description of the history of the organization of the Free Economic Society, as well as to the analysis of the main results of its activities.

What was the purpose of the Free Economic Society

In the 18th century, the ideas of the Enlightenment began to gain popularity in Russia. The basis of these ideas is the role of science and education in social and state progress. For the first time, the ideas of the Enlightenment came to Russia under Peter 1, as a result, the Academy of Sciences was opened. Later, the spread of the ideas of the Enlightenment led to the opening of a university and other educational institutions in Moscow. The peak of popularity of Enlightenment thinkers falls on the reign of Catherine II. The Empress herself was on friendly terms with Voltaire and Diderot, who were considered classics of the French Enlightenment. Communication with Diderot made Catherine think about creating scientific publications in Russia, following the example of the Encyclopedia. Correspondence with Voltaire pushed the empress to create organizations that would carry progressive ideas to the people. The main branch of the Russian economy was agriculture, which is why this area required reforms, using the best practices and progressive ideas of Europe.

Creation of the Society

In 1765, dignitaries close to Catherine, Grigory Orlov and Roman Vorontsov, approached the Empress with the idea of creating an organization that would disseminate progressive ideas of agriculture, as well as knowledge of animal husbandry and agronomy among the landowners. According to the initiators, the Russian nobles knew only one way to increase productivity - the expansion of the territory, as well as an increase in peasant duties. Thus a free economic society was born.

In the modern language of economics, the landlords chose the extensive way of farming, and the newly created Society, and in fact a public organization, will spread the ideas of the intensive method, that is, increasing productivity through rational policy and scientific achievements (fertilizers, and later technology). The Empress supported the idea, and the Free Economic Society was organized. Adam Olsufiev and Ivan Chernyshev also joined the two creators.

As for the organizational moment, the Society was to be headed by the president, who was elected by the participants, and the monarch approved. Until 1783, Grigory Orlov was president. In the first years of its activity, the society published the journal "Proceedings", on the pages of which articles were published about the latest methods of soil cultivation, information about fertilizers. In addition, members of the free economic society collected statistical information about the climatic features of the regions of Russia. The magazine was published until 1855, and in total more than 30 volumes were printed. However, the most high-profile event in the activities of the Free Society was an essay competition on improving peasant life.

Peasant Reform Competition

Later, the Free Society announced a competition for the best plan for solving the peasant problem in Russia. The peculiarity was that foreigners could participate in the competition. So several interesting projects were submitted.

A. Polenov was singled out from Russian works, who proposed to weaken serfdom in Russia as much as possible, transferring large plots of land to the peasants, but in return giving them duties. Polenov's work was never published because it contained a detailed critique of the feudal system in Russia.

The most radical was Voltaire's project, which proposed to completely free the peasants by transferring land to their ownership. The very fact of participation in this competition of the great philosopher and poet attracted the attention of all Europe to this event.

The winner in the competition was the project of the Frenchman Bearde de Labey, who proposed to free the peasants, but transferring them to the ownership of small plots of land, which would force them to rent land from the owners - the nobility.

Despite the great interest in the competition, his ideas remained projects. However, despite this, for the first time, the nobility faced the question of the future of the serfdom system.

Free Economic Society in the 19th century

In the middle of the 19th century, the Society expanded significantly and consisted of three sections:

Agriculture;
Agricultural machinery;
Agricultural statistics.

An interesting fact is that the society bought land near St. Petersburg and created a site for experiments there. This was called the Okhta farm. In 1899, the Society began publishing the journal Soil Science.

During the reforms of Alexander 2, the Free Society became a place for discussing liberal ideas. That is why at the end of the century it came under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture, effectively ceasing to be a public organization. In fact, the Free Society ceased to exist in 1915, the society was finally dissolved in 1919 during the civil war.

Has the society achieved its goals?

Despite the great scientific and statistical work, as well as the popularization of progressive ways of farming, historians are wondering about the effectiveness of the Free Economic Society. Today, most historians believe that the Society did not fulfill its task, because, despite the large number of publications, only a few nobles became interested in the modernization of the village. However, the very fact of the existence of the Society prompted discussions about the future of the village in the Russian Empire. It was the Society that first forced the nobles to think about the serf system and its problems. Thus, the main merits of the Free Economic Society lie in the theoretical sphere; the matter has not reached large-scale practice.