Economic Consequences Of The 1933 Soviet Famine

40 Pages Posted: 8 Dec 2024

See all articles by Natalya Naumenko

Natalya Naumenko

George Mason University - Department of Economics

Date Written: December 02, 2024

Abstract

Using recently discovered archival data, this article studies the changes in the Soviet population and the urbanization patterns after the 1933 famine. It documents that, although most of the direct victims lived in the rural areas, the famine is associated with a persistent negative change in the urban population. In fact, the rural population gradually recovered while urban settlements in more affected areas became permanently smaller. The paper shows that these changes were not planned in the First Five-Year Plan (1928-1933), but that subsequent plans may have incorporated and exacerbated the differences in urbanization that occurred during the years of rural crisis. The paper argues that the shortage of labor during the crucial years of the rapid industrialization hindered the development of cities in areas stricken by the famine. Thus, the timing of the shock to population appears to be important. While established urban networks tend to recover from large temporary negative shocks, the lack of people during construction and rapid growth might have a permanent negative impact.

Keywords: Russia, Famine consequences

JEL Classification: O18, P25, R12, R13

Suggested Citation

Naumenko, Natalya, Economic Consequences Of The 1933 Soviet Famine (December 02, 2024). GMU Working Paper in Economics No. 24-37, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5047581 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5047581

Natalya Naumenko (Contact Author)

George Mason University - Department of Economics ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
34
Abstract Views
156
PlumX Metrics