About some important accomplishments of VEO.

“My motto is a bee that, flying from plant to plant, collects honey to take it to the hive, and the inscription to this is “Useful,” Russian Empress Catherine II wrote to Voltaire. This idea of ​​a “brand”, as they would say in our time, the Empress presented to the Imperial Free Economic Society, created in 1765, the first steps of which we wrote about in the last issue of the Free Economy. Let us see how the Society justified this motto.

Dreams of Enlightenment

The Empress, who lived in the spirit of the Enlightenment, who was friends and corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot, dreamed of changing the Russian Empire and continuing the course of transformation begun by Peter I. While the industrial revolution was going on in Europe, the agrarian question was the main issue in the Russian Empire. 9/10 of its population was employed in agriculture, and droughts and crop failures led to starvation and death of people. Catherine dreamed of the abolition of serfdom, but the alliance of the autocracy with the nobility in those years could not be called into question and shaken by premature actions.

Under these conditions, Catherine acted wisely: she blessed the birth of a third force - a social one, which first appeared in our country along with the creation of the Imperial Free Economic Society.

From the first meetings of the Society there, the problem of the life and work of the peasants often came first.

Despite the fact that during the reign of Catherine II, serfdom only grew stronger, this strengthening was rather a reaction of the ruling class to a natural movement towards the liberation of the peasants, this topic reached the level of public controversy, the Overton Window opened. Catherine was in no hurry with decisions of this level - the abolition of serfdom, with insufficient preparation, would have led to the most sad consequences. Yes, and the Pugachev rebellion did not add determination.

Contests

One of the most effective ways to study public opinion, on the basis of which it was possible to conduct analytics and conduct research, were VEO competitions, the task of which was to collect the maximum number of opinions of caring people. During the first century of work, 243 tasks were submitted to them, which were offered to be solved by everyone.

In addition to love for the Fatherland, the obvious motivation for participating in them was awards and medals, as well as the possibility of a social lift and support for an influential organization for the author of the study. For example, Efim Andreevich Grachev, a seed grower and gardener who grew 4 tons of champignons a year, was a regular participant in the meetings of the Free Economic Society, it helped him get rare seeds from abroad and supported him in every possible way.

Grachev became the winner of a dozen world exhibitions and, unlike most gardeners of that time, did not hide his "secrets", but shared them with ease.

Grachev's example is not unique. Competitions of the Free Economic Society have become an opportunity not only to learn more about the people, to find talents in society, but to give them the opportunity to develop. True, so far it was mainly about the nobility.

Research method

The meetings of the Imperial VEO were not an empty "talking shop", from the first days it relied on practice, on real steps to improve life on the basis of research on the economic, and not only economic, situation in the country.

In one of the early documents of the VEO, it was noted: “What is not in Russia - everything you need is; it is necessary to use what is offered in nature, knowledge, diligence and review are necessary ... "

At first, there were projects of the Society related only to the peasantry and agriculture (for example, sending seeds, organizing agricultural exhibitions, promoting potatoes), then the development of industry became the agenda.

smallpox control

The VEO showed itself resolutely and prudently during the period of smallpox fever in St. Petersburg. The Free Economic Society spent a lot of money to educate the population and put a lot of effort into defending the idea of ​​​​universal vaccination.

Wanting to set an example for her subjects, Catherine II was vaccinated against smallpox herself. In memory of the act of the empress, a medal was made with the image of Catherine on one side and the temple of the ancient Greek god of medical art Aesculapius, from which the healed empress and heir emerge, on the other.

Wanting to set an example for her subjects, Catherine II was vaccinated herself, and after a successful outcome, she wrote to the Prussian king Frederick II, who pointed out to her the unreasonable risk that she was “accustomed from childhood to have a horror of smallpox”, and therefore she preferred to be exposed to the least danger ... and thereby save many people.

In memory of the act of the empress, a medal was made with the image of Catherine on one side and the temple of the ancient Greek god of medical art Aesculapius, from which the healed empress and heir emerge, on the other. An inscription was made on top: “I set an example by myself”, at the bottom the date: “1768 October 12”.

In 1846, the first permanent smallpox inoculation room in Russia was opened in the VEO building.

GREAT PERSONS OF THE IMPERIAL VEO

Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov(09/05/1745 - 04/16/1813) - commander-in-chief during the Patriotic War of 1812.

Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev(08/20/1749 - 09/12/1802) - writer, philosopher, author of "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow."

Leonhard Euler(04/15/1707, Switzerland - 09/07/1783, Russian Empire) - mathematician, physicist, astronomer, chemist, etc. He made a great contribution to the development of many sciences.

Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky(01/01/1772 - 02/11/1839) - Russian statesman, progressive reformer under Alexander I and Nicholas I.

Dmitry Mendeleev(01/27/1834 - 01/20/1907) - encyclopedic scientist, author of the periodic system of elements - one of the basic laws of nature.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho-Maclay(07/05/1846 - 04/02/1888) - ethnographer, researcher of the peoples of Southeast Asia, Australia and Oceania.

Nikolai Semenovich Mordvinov(04/17/1754 - 03/30/1845) - admiral, one of the founders of the Black Sea Fleet, chairman of the Imperial VEO in 1823 - 1840.

Sergei Yulievich Witte(06/17/1849 - 02/28/1915) - statesman, head of government, author of the policy of industrial development of Russia.

Museum

"To follow the foreign economy and write out from those places where agriculture flourishes, models of the best arable implements and store them with the Society," read the first text of the Society's Charter.

Already by 1792, a lot of models had accumulated, and a keeper was assigned to them, after 11 years, in 1803, a permanent agricultural exhibition - a museum was opened at the Society. It was very popular: subjects of the Empire sent to the Society from all over the country fabric samples, seeders, microscopes, and wooden crafts.

Soon the museum grew so much that the list of names of artifacts of the exposition alone took up one hundred pages in the catalog.

On the basis of the museum in 1829, workshops were also set up, where equipment of their own production was produced. All the cars from there immediately sold out.

VDNKh prototype

The idea of ​​organizing an exhibition of achievements of the national economy appeared long before the advent of the USSR. And if under Peter I small technical exhibitions were arranged “for their own”, then in the 19th century they became public.

The Imperial Free Economic Society began to hold economic exhibitions under its auspices in 1849. In addition to the agricultural means of production already familiar from the museum, they presented new products produced by different farms, advanced varieties of fruits, vegetables, and much more.

At many prestigious exhibitions, including those in Paris in 1878 and 1889, in Prague in 1879, in Chicago in 1893 and others, the expositions of the VEO received the highest awards.

Education

Since the 20s of the 19th century, the VEO has been actively involved in the problems of what we would now call education and enlightenment, including in the field of economics or the national economy.

In 1833, Nicholas I donated capital to the Society for these purposes, and the VEO began to train teachers for the village.

In 1880, the VEO submitted its project for peasant rural schools to the Ministry of State Property. They had to work for all classes, children and adults from 14 years old were accepted for training, students had to master the course in four years.

The disciplines were as follows: the Russian language, the law of God, reading and calligraphy, geometry and arithmetic, natural science and geography. "Cattle breeding with practical instructions on veterinary art and hygiene" was also studied. The elective subjects were gymnastics, bookkeeping and singing.

The project was approved by the ministry. Already in 1898, there were 110 rural schools in the Russian Empire, in which 4033 people studied.

In 1904, a three-stage education system was formed in the country. By 1910, more than 20,000 people were studying in 243 agricultural educational institutions in Russia.

Scientific work

In terms of the total number of luminaries of science and "remarkable people" in its ranks, the VEO confidently holds the first place among public organizations in the history of the Russian Empire. These are hundreds of outstanding people

We list just a few: Sergei Witte, Leonard Euler, Dmitry Mendeleev, Mikhail Kutuzov, Thaddeus Bellingshausen, Ivan Krusenstern, Nikolai Miklukho-Maclay, Pyotr Stolypin, Gavriil Derzhavin, Leo Tolstoy, Alexander Radishchev, Nikolai Mordvinov, Grigory Orlov, Roman Vorontsov, Mikhail Speransky .

Such a "star cast" has been going for many years. Involving ethnographers, geographers, chemists, physicists, mathematicians, biologists, travelers, industrialists, the Free Economic Society unlimitedly expanded the range of its work, which means it brought more of the same benefit commanded by Catherine the Great.

VEO as an expert institute

As we have already noted, one of the key areas of activity of IVEO was economic analytics - information was collected from the regions, research and expeditions were carried out, and the Zemsky Yearbook was published.

From the first days of its existence, the society was actively engaged in publishing activities - distributed free of charge millions of copies of brochures and books, including more than 126 publications of its Literacy Committee.

During the First World War, a Special Commission was created in the Free Economic Society for the needs of the war.

At the expense of the Society, the famous Voentorg was created in Moscow and comprehensive assistance was organized for the victims of the war - from collecting donations and supporting hospitals to organizing communities in the villages, which were provided with guardianship.

This is just a quick look at some of the outstanding milestones in the work of the Imperial Free Economic Society, of course, there are many more of them and it is worth talking about them in more detail, which we will do in the next issues of the magazine.

Text: Alexey Rudevich

EDUCATION IS THE BASIS OF INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS
DECEMBER 3, 1897 GENERAL MEETING OF THE IMPERIAL FREE ECONOMIC SOCIETY
From the report of the chairman of the III Division, Professor Leonid Vladimirovich Khodsky, on the question of lowering duties on pig iron.
“The past 12 years of systematic patronage of iron-smelting and iron-working plants have not brought the desired results ... If over the past decade all plants have failed to catch up with Europe in technology in order to compete with it, this situation will continue. We are moving forward, but the progress of technology in the West does not stop waiting for the East to catch up with it. In achieving the latter goal, duties are powerless. This could only be achieved by developing the Russian folk genius through general education and dissemination of technical knowledge among the masses of the population. Only by such an internal patronizing policy, sparing no effort and money, can one win with his industry not only domestic, but also foreign markets.
REFERENCE

L.V. Khodsky (1854–1919) - Russian economist, publicist, professor at St. Petersburg University. In the 1890s he was chairman of the III Branch of the Free Economic Society (agricultural statistics and political economy). He wrote several textbooks on political economy (2 editions, 1884 and 1887), on finance ("Fundamentals of the State Economy", 1894) and on statistics (1896).

You can learn more about the history of the VEO in Volume 200 of the Proceedings of the Free Economic Society of Russia, which is entirely devoted to the activities of the Imperial Free Economic Society. It is available in .pdf format on the organization's website - veorus.ru. In the same place, in the "Library" section, digitized pre-revolutionary volumes of the Society's works from the day it was founded are laid out.

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 Gracious, 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 economics 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 the 1796 competition for compiling the "People's Encyclopedia" with the aim of popularizing scientific knowledge can be highlighted.

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 began to manufacture 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 agricultural artels in 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 20s of the 19th century, 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.

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 flag 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 Leaflet" 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 imperial 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 sentiments 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 in the direction of 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 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 banking and production", 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 "Econom" 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 the Society's publications 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).

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 Favor to you as you multiply your diligence.
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 command 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 (by 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.

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 20s of the 19th century, 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".

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.

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 imperial 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 sentiments 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 in the direction of 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.

Story

Before 1917

The aim was to study the state of Russian agriculture and the conditions of the economic life of the country and to disseminate information useful for agriculture. consisted of three sections:

• agricultural;
• agricultural technical production and agricultural mechanics;
• political economy and agricultural statistics.

At the head was an elected president. The rights and privileges of the Free Economic Society were confirmed by special Highest Rescripts at the beginning of each reign.

It published "Proceedings" - books relating to agriculture and public education, organized agricultural exhibitions, and distributed smallpox vaccination. At the VEO there was a Literacy Committee (closed in 1896), commissions: soil, statistical, on the peasant question, on the free distribution of books, a library, museums: soil them. V. V. Dokuchaev, folk industry, models and machines, mineralogical, soil, botanical, zoological collections.

Since 1900, the activities of the VEO, due to police restrictions, have been suspended. The proposal to develop a new charter remained without movement (1906).

The complex of buildings of the house of the Free Economic Society (19th century, Moskovsky avenue, 33, 4th Krasnoarmeyskaya st., 1) - An architectural monument of federal significance.

VEO in modern Russia

The activity of the public organization of economists was resumed in 1982 under the name "Scientific Economic Society". It was headed by academician T. S. Khachaturov. In 1987, the organization became known as the "All-Union Economic Society", whose president was elected Minister of Finance of the USSR V.S. Pavlov. In the city, the historical name was returned - "Free Economic Society of Russia", in the same year the society was headed by the mayor of Moscow G. Kh. Popov. Since 1998, the society has been holding the All-Russian competition "Economic Growth of Russia".

The headquarters of the VEO of Russia is located in the Moscow House of the Economist on Tverskaya, 22a.

VEO awards

In pre-revolutionary Russia, the VEO was awarded gold, silver and copper medals established by Catherine II. Among the medal winners: Bearde de l'Abbay, K. Winnert, F. German, I. Timman, N. Sementovsky, M. Titov, A. Neustroev, V. Vereshchagin, A. Butlerov, V. Vodovozov and others.

For the presence at the meetings of the society, gold and silver tokens were also awarded (following the example of the French Academy).

A special medal was issued for the centenary of the society (1865).

In 2005, the VEO established the "Big Gold Medal" and "Silver Medal". Among those awarded the Big Gold Medal are L. Abalkin, Yu. Luzhkov, G. Popov; Silver medals were awarded to: S. Sitaryan, R. Shageeva, R. Plotnikova, E. Urinovsky, I. Smelyanskaya, as well as institutional entities: International Academy of Management, Socio-political magazine "Our Power: Cases and Faces", etc.

Literature

• V. Sudeikin,// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• "Essays on the history of the Imperial Free Economic Society", Khodnev (1865)
• "Essays on the history of the Imperial Free Economic Society", Beketov (1890)
• Shinkarenko P. V. "The Reborn Phoenix: Essays on the Activities of the Free Economic Society of Russia 1765-2005" - M., 2005. ISBN 5-94160-031-3

Links

Categories:

• Scientific societies of Russia
• Imperial Russian societies
• Russian associations and movements
• Economic societies
• Scientific societies of the Russian Empire
• Appeared in 1765
• Scientific societies of St. Petersburg

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See what the "Free Economic Society" is in other dictionaries:

Free Economic Society- (VEO), the oldest scientific society in Russia. 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. ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

Modern Encyclopedia

Free Economic Society- (VEO), Russia's first scientific economic society. Founded in St. Petersburg in 1765. Organized competitions on political economy and applied agricultural and technical problems, economic questionnaire surveys, exhibitions ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (VEO) the first Russian scientific society, founded in 1765 in St. Petersburg. Published the first statistical and geographical studies of Russia, contributed to the introduction of new agricultural technology in agriculture, and discussed economic ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (VEO), the first Russian scientific society. Founded in 1765 in St. Petersburg. Published the first statistical and geographical study of Russia, contributed to the introduction of new agricultural techniques in agriculture, and discussed economic problems ... Russian history

- (VEO), the oldest scientific society in Russia. 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, increase the productivity of the serf ... ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

- (VEO) one of the oldest in the world and the first economic society in Russia (free formally independent of government departments). Established in St. Petersburg in 1765 by large landowners who, in the conditions of market growth, sought and ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

The oldest of the scientific societies of Russia. Established in 1765, as it seems, on the initiative of Empress Catherine II, which is evident from the first composition of the members of the society, who were close to the court of the empress. The purpose of the society was to spread among the people ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

- (VEO) one of the oldest in the world and the first in Russia economic. about in (free independent from departments). Established in St. Petersburg in 1765 by large landowners G. G. Orlov, R. I. Vorontsov and other close associates of Catherine II, who aspired in conditions ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

- (VEO), the first Russian scientific society, founded in 1765 in St. Petersburg. Published the first statistical and geographical study of Russia, contributed to the introduction of new agricultural techniques in agriculture, and discussed economic ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

§ 4. Colonies of foreigners

O understanding of the low efficiency of forced labor is evidenced, in particular, by an attempt to demonstrate the advantages of free labor by creating a wide network of model farms based on free labor. In the conditions of serf Russia, such a mission was entrusted to foreign settlers from the countries of Western Europe. Decree

about an invitation to Russia for those wishing to engage in agriculture was issued a few months after the accession of Catherine II - October 14, 1762. The conditions that were offered are impressive. Foreigners were promised the opportunity to farm "on the most fertile lands in the world." Here they were supposed to be placed in pre-built houses, provided with livestock and household equipment. All this was offered for a loan, the payment of which in small installments must be repaid over a long period of time. The settlers were granted self-government, freedom of religion, it was forbidden only to build monasteries. Along with agriculture, they could engage in fishing activities, establish fairs and auctions, trade both within the state and with other countries. For a long time they were exempted from all duties, including recruiting. And all this in serf Russia, in the conditions of the tightening of serfdom here. The scale of the plan is evidenced by the size of the appropriations: during the reign of Catherine, over five million rubles were allocated for this

- a huge sum for those times.

The practical implementation of the planned was carefully thought out. A special institution was created in St. Petersburg: the Office of Guardianship of Foreigners, which was in charge of resettlement affairs. The then favorite of Catherine II, Alexei Orlov, was placed at the head of the office, endowed with the widest powers. Describing his business qualities, Catherine singled out diligence and exceptional energy in the implementation of the entrusted, which also emphasized the importance attached to the new enterprise. The guardianship office was accountable to the entire network of institutions created on the ground, in charge of delimiting the land. At the same time, they were ordered to take into account even the fact that, in order to avoid possible clashes, representatives of different religious denominations did not coexist with each other. Lands for settlers were allocated in the central provinces of Russia, as well as in St. Petersburg. But the main habitats were to become the then semi-empty lands of the Middle Volga and Northern Black Sea regions.

In the countries of Western Europe, a system of recruitment centers was created. Such a widely conceived event, however, did not justify hopes. There were several reasons. Perhaps the main one was that, despite the well-established recruitment service, instead of the expected hardworking and knowledgeable farmers, skilled artisans, few dared to come to Russia, primarily seekers of an easy life, a significant part of which consisted of declassed elements, rejected by society. . In addition, the measures planned in St. Petersburg for the timely demarcation of land, the construction of houses and the fulfillment of other conditions were not implemented. On the outskirts, a small local population met the newcomers unfriendly. The landowners, in the conditions of the development of market relations, themselves coveted the fertile lands. The local administration immediately saw a source of profit here. The Russian reality, thus, overturned the reform plans proposed by the government, showing their illusory nature. Two years later, in conditions when the newly-minted colonists brought to undeveloped lands turned out to be dependents of the treasury, it was decided to suspend the influx of new ones for the time being. The permit was renewed only in the 70s, after more than 10 years, and had already other goals: to promote the settlement

niyu uninhabited places. The colonies of foreigners did not play any noticeable role in the economic life of Russia. The economy of foreign settlers improved only after a few decades, through the efforts of subsequent generations. But even then these settlements of the colonists existed separately, not in close contact with the surrounding population.

Thus, large-scale plans had to be abandoned. In the conditions of Russia in the XVIII century. they turned out to be unrealistic, since they were not provided with economic and social guarantees. The local administration was unable to fulfill the task assigned to it, and the local residents perceived the newly-minted settlers unfriendly, especially against the backdrop of the privileges that were granted to them.

test questions

1. Describe the main features of enlightened absolutism and its specifics in Russia in the second half of the 18th century.

2. Evaluate the "Instruction" of Catherine II of the Legislative Commission.

3. Why are there no articles about the most numerous class - the peasantry - in the above-mentioned "Instruction"?

4. Why did the work of the Legislative Commission fail and what significance did it have?

5. In whose interests the activities of the Free Economic Society were carried out

6. Connect the idea of ​​organizing colonies of foreigners with the ideas of "Nakaz".

Literature

1. BriknerA. History of Catherine II. T. 1–2. M., 1991.

2. Druzhinin N.M. Enlightened absolutism in Russia / Absolutism in Russia (XVII–XVIII centuries). M., 1964.

3. Kamensky A.B. Life and fate of Catherine the Great. M., 1997.

4. Klyuchevsky V.O. Russian history course. Op. in 9 vols. T. 4. M., 1989.

5. Moryakov V.I. Russian enlightenment of the second half. 18th century M., 1994.

6. Omelchenko O.Ya. "Legitimate Monarchy" of Catherine II. M., 1993.

7. Pavlenko N.I. Catherine the Great. Ed. 2nd. M., 2000.

Chapter XIX Socio-economic development of Russia in the second half of the XVIII century.

Second half of the 18th century became a time of significant development of agriculture, industry and trade. This was facilitated by both objective circumstances and purposeful activities of the government. After all, it was the economic sphere that to a large extent ensured the stability of society, and constitutes the economic foundation of the military power of the state.

§ 1. Agriculture

In the second half of the XVIII century. agriculture remained the main sphere of activity of the predominant part of the population, the main source of life's blessings. The increase in agricultural production was carried out, first of all, due to the accession to Russia of vast territories and the development of lands that had not been cultivated before. So, at that time, the Right-bank Ukraine, the lands of Belarus, the Baltic states became part of Russia. Beginning in the 1930s, as a result of landlord and partly peasant colonization, vast areas of the Trans-Volga region began to be developed for agricultural land. The victories of Russian weapons, as well as the organizational activities of G.A. Potemkin was stimulated by the development of the lands of the Northern Black Sea region. Thus, the agricultural balance of Russia included vast lands, some of which had previously been a zone of relatively intensive agriculture.

One of the consequences of this was the further deepening of the geographical division of labor. The provinces of the Chernozem center, stretching from the middle reaches of the Dnieper to the middle reaches of the Volga, become the main producers of bread. Here the yield of bread was five or more. Along with the traditional crops - rye, oats, barley, the sowing of wheat, which is in high demand in the domestic and foreign markets, is expanding. The harvest of grain on marginal non-chernozem soils in a vast zone, covering part of Belarus, the Smolensk region, Tver, Novgorod, Pskov, Vologda and other provinces, often did not provide the population with bread, especially in conditions of frequent crop failures. (In the 18th century, there were 30 lean years on the territory of Russia.) But here, on podzolic soils, the sowing of industrial crops expanded: flax and hemp. Potato crops are increasing, which is becoming a horticultural crop. The population, buying bread supplied from the South and South-West, got the opportunity to expand fishing activities.

Along with the dominance of the traditional three-field system, steps are being taken to introduce a multi-field system, improve land cultivation, and organize seed production. A great contribution to this belonged to the above-mentioned Free Economic Society founded in St. Petersburg. But local agronomic schools are also being created locally through the efforts of local enthusiasts. So, the Olonets governor Sievers announced the creation of a school where they teach how to grow potatoes and invited the landlords to send boys there for training.

Around the capitals and large cities, commercial horticulture has developed. So, the peasants of the Rostov district of the Yaroslavl province specialized in growing early vegetables and chicory.

The processing of agricultural raw materials is becoming an important area of ​​landlord entrepreneurship. First of all, distillation, which has become widespread, should be noted. The supply of wine to the treasury brought large incomes. In 1756, the nobility was granted a monopoly on its supply. The scale of distillation is evidenced, in particular, by the fact that only in the Smolensk province in the 80s there were 568 distilleries "factories".

Cattle breeding, like agriculture, was notable for its low level. The livestock breeds of the peasants were mostly unproductive. Cattle breeding was also poorly developed in the landlord economy. But here, too, new trends emerged. So, in the north of the country, one of the best breeds of cattle is distributed - Kholmogory. In Oryol, Voronezh and other provinces, breeds of trotting and draft horses are bred, and fine-wool sheep breeding is being planted in the south of the country.

However, examples of this kind were episodic. The bulk of the population continued to engage in agriculture in the old fashioned way.