Economic and Social Policies

Question 1

How successful were Mussolini’s economic and social policies?

Answer 1

To Mussolini the economy came first so social problems were only solved if they coincided with his economic or foreign policy issues.

Exam Board Specification: Education and Youth policy, media, sport, Dopolavoro, Corporativism, battles for lira, grain, marshes and births

Question 2

Economic - Production and War Preparations

Answer 2

• Wheat production increases by 100% between 1922 and 1939
• Increases in the production of electricity
• Production of pig iron increased by half a million tonnes
• However Germany’s increased by 33 million tonnes
• Italy’s per capita growth rates fell from 2.7 to 1.9 while Germany’s rose from 2.6 to 3.8

Question 3

Economic - Corporate State and Battles

Answer 3

• Battle for the Lira - increased Mussolini’s prestige with foreign bankers however unemployment tripled between 1926 and 1928 and in 1936 the lira had to be devalued
• Battle for Grain - the grain harvest increased by 1.5 million tonnes but it had a negative effect on the export of wine, olives and citrus fruits
• Corporate State - failed to solve unemployment as this rose from half a million to two million

Question 4

Social - Adults

Answer 4

• Failed as the older generation were resistant to change
• Dopolavoro - provided a range of leisure activities which increased support for the regime as 4 million people were taking part however this did not mean that they wanted to lay down their lives for fascism
• Battle for Births - banning abortion and contraception, decreasing taxes for men who are married however it did not work as the birth rate declined between 1927 and 1936

Question 5

Social - Children

Answer 5

• ONB - attracted millions of members due to sports clubs and summer camps however like the
  Dopolavoro it did not make people completely loyal to fascism
• Education - non-patriotic books were banned, teachers had to swear an oath of loyalty and a military education covering history, weapons and tactics were introduced however a number of children left school at 11 so were outside of fascist influence