Review article
Basic observations on the economy of Croatia and Slavonia in 1903/1904
Hrvoje Petrić
orcid.org/0000-0001-6814-0913
; Odsjek za povijest, Filozofski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Ivana Lučića 3, HR-10000 Zagreb
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to shed some light on the problem of the relationship between economic cycles and the rhythm of political cycles, as exemplified by the events of 1903/1904. After the crisis that had lasted from 1873 to 1895 the economy of Croatia and Slavonia experienced accelerated growth. The paper reexamines the Kondratiev waves, especially the initial effect of the third Kondratiev wave on Croatia and Slavonia. The prosperity that came about after 1895 (compared to previous decades) was not evenly distributed. It was felt the least by the peasantry due to slow modernization. On the other hand, the swelling of the entrepreneurial stratum, in which the GDP was concentrated, in the cities lead to the growth of social inequality. It can be concluded that the uneven distribution of prosperity (which worsened the distrust that peasants felt towards the citizens), in combination with many other inherited problems faced by the peasantry, was one of the triggers of the peasant movements of 1903/1904 and a decisive factor which convinced the Radić brothers that the peasantry had to become politically active as soon as possible. It is also important to note that the uneven distribution of prosperity became an important basis for garnering the support of the peasantry for the political program of the Croatian popular peasant’s party (HPSS).
Keywords
economic history; Croatia and Slavonia; relationship between economic and political cycles; Kondratiev waves
Hrčak ID:
129921
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2014.
Visits: 2.330 *