5: Fascist Economy Flashcards
What policies were involved in the Battle for Lira?
- Changed from 150 lira to a pound to 90 lira
- Regulation of industrial regulations
- Managing state finances
- Modernisation of Economy
- Tariffs on imports introduced
What were the consequences of the Battle for Lira?
- State became more involved with Economy
- Imports became cheaper
- Raised Mussolini’s prestige
- Wages fell more than prices
- Living standards declined
- Unemployment triples
What was the Corporate State?
- System of labour relations and organisations
- Fascist economic and social policies together
- Improve worker conditions and relations
- Improve production
Benefits of the Corporate State
- Alternative to Communism and Capitalism
- Ministry of Corporations regarded labour relations and wage rates
- Glorified in propaganda
- Gave paid national holidays
- Implemented Catholic teachings
- Provided a distraction within the PNF and showed the world Italy could deal with labour disputes
Negatives of the Corporate State
- Didn’t have a dramatic impact on the economy
* Only one corporation by 1929, took until 1934 to cover all areas
Positive and Failures for workers due to the Corporate State
Positives: •Improved rights, conditions and hours •Paid national holidays in 1938 •Wage rates improved Negatives: •Could not choose their representatives •Confederation of trade unions broke down •Strikes resulted in fines or imprisonment
Positives and Negatives for Industrialists due to the Corporate State
Positives: •Represent themselves •Provided a distraction within the PNF •Trade Union broke down Negatives: •Failed to impact the economy
Positives and negatives for Fascists due to the Corporate State
Positives: •Alternative to capitalism and communism •Glorified in propaganda •Labour relations improved Negatives: Failed to impact the economy Took up to 1934 to cover all areas
What were problems due to the Great Depression?
- Stocks declines by 35% and manufacturing dropped by 14%
- Banks couldn’t pay back business loans
- Less demands for products
- Value of Lira dropped
- Unemployment increased to over 1 million
What were solutions for the problems faced during the Great Depression?
- IMI set up to rescue banks, bought shares and loaned money
- IRI limited competition to keep prices artificially high
- IFE monopolise and regulate foreign exchange and currency trading
- Spending increases on public works programmes
Who are the IMI, IRI, IFE?
IMI - Institutio Mobilaire Italiano 1931
IRI - Institutio for Industrial Reconstruction 1933
IFE - Institute of Foreign Exchange 1934
What was the plan for Autarky?
Announced in 1936 (mainly for propaganda) increased control on currency and imports in order to become self sufficient. Didn’t have enough natural resources, prices increased and couldn’t join the war due to lack of materials.
What was the Battle for Births?
Launched in 1927 to increase population from 40 to 60 million by 1950. Employment for married men, medals to mothers and no tax for couples with 6 kids. Homosexuality outlawed in 1931, divorce, abortion, contraception and sterilisation were all banned.
What was the Battle for Grain?
Make Italy self sufficient in grain production and free Italy from ‘Alavert of foreign bread’ High tariffs on imported goods, 50% rise in wheat production and wheat imports fell by 75%
Policy was more of a propaganda victory
What was the Battle for Land?
Land reclamation, drain 500,000 hectares of marsh land. Mosquitos and malaria declined by 50%
Alienated some wealthy land owners, wages of farmers fell by 50%
