«SHORTAGE» IN LIFE OF THE FAR EAST VILLAGERS DURING THE «LATE» SOCIALISM PERIOD

The article considers commodity shortage as one of the most essential phenomena in the life of the Soviet people of the Far East in 1970s – the first half of 1980s. The author points out positive aspects in development of rural areas of the region in the analyzed period focusing on growth of the villagers’ income, development of social and other infrastructures. Positive shifts were caused by special attention of the government to the Far East region and its inhabitants. Those positive tendencies were combined with negative phenomena, such as permanent shortage of goods for people. Deficiency took place in the previous decades as well, but villagers treated that problem more tolerantly owing to preservation of a traditional way of life and low level of demands. The situation changed in the considered period. The accelerated «urbanization» of the village and increase in the villagers’ needs led to the fact that people began not only to buy larger quantity of goods, but also became more selective in purchases. The author emphasizes that despite the attempts of the authorities to change the situation to the best, the Far East village felt deficiency in full – both in food and nonfoods. The price policy of the government was also connected with the problem of deficiency. Relation between a price situation in the region and the corresponding reaction of local population becomes obvious. The prices on mass-produced goods were relatively low, but on scarce products they were high. Because of the insufficient range or lack of the necessary goods in rural shops the population was compelled to look for other sources of satisfaction of their needs. A considerable part of the income remained unspent and accumulated in constantly increasing savings. Rural deficiency facilitated strengthening of villagers’ discontent with the situation and indirectly led to their outflow to the other more favorable locations.