THE IMPACT OF SPECULATION ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC LIFE OF LVIV RESIDENTS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR (JULY 1915 – DECEMBER 1917)

Abstract

This article examines the main factors that contributed to the growth of commodity speculation in Lviv during 1915–1917, its main forms, as well as the methods of combating it, which were used by the central and local authorities and the police. First of all, the factors that led to the spread of the phenomenon of speculation in the studied period are analyzed. In particular, the impact on speculation of the mass influx of refugees and immigrants, which caused a sharp increase in the city’s population, was considered. The second reason for the growth of shadow trade is the lack of food supply in Lviv during the war, which led to a shortage of goods. Despite the introduction of a system of price regulation and stock control, food shortages created conditions for shadowy manipulations and illegal trade. Particular attention is paid to the criminal situation and looting, which intensified in the last weeks of the stay of the Russian administration in Lviv. Mass robberies, looting of warehouses and military barracks were noted, which caused an artificial shortage of goods and the growth of the illegal market. The impact of the sanitary–epidemiological situation was mentioned, which not only complicated living conditions, but also affected the logistics of supplying goods and the spread of panic among the population. The article also describes the main forms of speculative activity in the period under study. The most widespread manifestation among them was the increase in prices in retail trade. Differences in the speculative practices of small traders and large resellers were noted: the former were forced to sell products at inflated prices for their own survival, while the latter organized large–scale schemes with artificial shortages. The practice of taking food out of the city was considered. It is emphasized that individual cases of movement of goods were carried out by refugees and military personnel for personal use, however, significant batches of food were illegally exported for resale, which only deepened the commodity deficit in Lviv. In the final part of the article, attention is devoted to the methods of countering speculation, which were used by the Austrian administration and law enforcement agencies. The measures to control shops and markets, the introduction of maximum prices and punishment for violators were analyzed. The effectiveness of these measures was also evaluated. The study allows for a deeper understanding of the socio–economic situation of Lviv during the First World War, revealing the mechanisms of the functioning of speculation and its impact on the everyday life of the city’s residents.