“Dimitrie Cantemir” Christian University Knowledge Horizons - Economics Volume 6, No. 3, pp. 125–127 P-ISSN: 2069-0932, E-ISSN: 2066-1061 © 2014 Pro Universitaria www.orizonturi.ucdc.ro ROMANIAN ECONOMIC THINKING INTERWAR CONCEPTS OF ECONOMIC POLICY Ion Gr. IONESCU Dimitrie Cantemir” Christian University, Faculty of Management in Tourism and Commerce Constanţa, E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Romanian economic thinking in the interwar period can be treated systemically, as it presents a Key words: cohesive form, showing that it was able to develop current trends and variables defined and Economic thinking, expressed, while society views those historical moments, translated politically by circles of thought liberalism, rusticism, associations and political groups. All the economic, Romania wars represents both a novel and socialism, economic complex decay's success as World War I land subject to the efforts over the powers of the policy Romanian nation. However, due to the final outcome of the war, the aftermath became favorable economic outcomes favorable to Romania, providing a substantial economic leap, the whole society, paving the domestic market growth, development and prosperity became the basis JEL Codes: for later. B20, B25 1. Introduction inequality of men, which is based on the definition of Great Union of 1918 had historical significance by private property as natural. This is the essence of creating Romanian national state, bringing changes in liberalism of yesterday and today. economic thinking, and structural changes in the Thus, the doctrine of liberal bourgeois freedom is economic, social and political life of the country. equivalent to private ownership with unrestricted right Economically, enlargement of the internal market of initiative in relation to the state. and improving the sectorial structure of the economy “Thus, the doctrine of liberal bourgeois freedom is equivalent to private ownership with unrestricted right unified and integrated, increased the national economic of initiative in relation to the state“.1 potential. In this way, “liberalism favored Romania and Closely related to the transformations and the defended the interests of capital, in general and big political, economic thinking reflected the major con- capital, especially industrial and financial, represented cerns of the nation: the agrarian question, the long term by the local bourgeoisie in its competition against development strategy of the national economic foreign capital for economic supremacy“2. complex: the priority of industry and agriculture, free Romanian liberalism continued the tradition of the trade or protectionism, state intervention in the previous three plans: the idea of private property as the economy and its proportion, position economy in the foundation of the economy, the idea of industrialization context hospitalized. and protection of Romanian industry and the priority of national interest to the foreign capitalists, summarized 2. Currents of economic thinking in the expression "in us". In addition, inter-war liberals From this point of view, the Romanian interwar were to emphasize the role of the state, and to take into period was characterized by the existence of three main account more carefully, social problems. currents of economic thought: liberal current, rusticist Representative economists of liberal current were I.N. Angelescu Mihail Manoilescu Stephen Zeletin, current and socialist current. Vintilă Brătianu Victor Slăvescu, Mitiţă Constantinescu. 2.1. The Liberal and Neoliberal current , 2.2. The Rusticist current Is considered that the accumulation and concentration Economic thinking of the rusticist current, was of capital, represents ways on strengthening and formed as a double reaction both to neoliberal thinking - development of big capital generating economic progress which was taken from the bourgeoisie and against and social prosperity. In doctrinal, the liberalism, socialist thinking that this affinity with marxism.3 categorically restricts civic equality. The main ideologue of this economic current, was The basis of this rejection is the thesis of natural Virgil Madgearu, one of the scholars of the interwar 125 Knowledge Horizons - Economics Volume 6, No. 3, pp. 125–127, © 2014 Pro Universitaria period Romanian economists. Formed in the spirit of 3. Concept s of economic policy German business school, he is largely the creator of the Politically, changed the balance of power, between rusticist current, which conceived ideology by defining the traditional parties (Liberal, Conservative and historical framework and socio-economic development rusticist) strengthened the liberal party (in the context of of the country. Adept of the sombartiene development strengthening the economic position of the scheme of the capitalism, in which "nothing justifies the bourgeoisie), the conservative doctrine will disappear same trend in the countries of Eastern Europe", in from the political scene, socialist political group divide, regards Romania, agriculture peasant wars present a and in 1926, will show a National Peasant Party. number of features that they demanded reform: Stormy parliamentary life was followed by personal character extensively, mostly cereals, spraying authority during the regime of King Carol II, then the properties and peasant holdings, low land prices and Legionary regime and the military mainly government agricultural wages. authority. Another reality was that in Romania, small farmers - Fundamental transformations arising after the Great the majority numerically represented the main element Union have put the issue of finding ways and means of of political life and their independent households not recovery and future development of the Romanian evolved under economic determinism, but under the economy. In this sense, the postwar years were action of biological factors. Troubleshooting solutions crossed by fierce debate on the subject, the required: intensive development and rational mechani- confrontation of ideas and concepts of the various zation of agriculture. political groups and even economic interest groups, Based on the conclusion that "the Romanian economy each showing a willingness to reflect and support their has not fundamentally changed the structure of the state, best interests. semi-capitalist agrarian- peasant social order", the Were detached, in particular, two major economic rusticism considers the agriculture as a necessary but not policy concept - "by ourselves", whose initiator was the sufficient for the development of the Romanian economy, National Liberal Party and "open doors", belonging to outlining why number of industry pros, as a prerequisite for the National Peasant Party 5. ensuring economic independence, for industries, in turn, Adapting to the realities of the World War, have beneficial effects on agriculture. presenting itself as a promoter of state unity and This school of thought also included, among others, electoral reforms and land by adopting the Constitution and Ion Răducanu Ernest Ene, Constantin Stere, Mihail of 1923 and a significant economic legislation since Ralea Gromoslav Mladenatz. 1924, the Liberal National Party dominated the political scene of authority Romania. Postwar economic 2.3. The Socialist current program since the program manifesto in December Continued labor movement and socialist tradition from 1918 liberal doctrine will gain new meanings. the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century. The main ideologue of the party – economist. Socialist economic thinking of the time was the chief Vintilă Brătianu - theorized need for industrial representatives, the most important being that Lucretius D. development of the country, "labor, and capital Pătrăşcanu using dialectical materialist method of Romanian initiative" to ensure "freedom of the research and the Marxist concept of social- economic Romanian economic". formation, linking early modern development of Romania, The Liberals do not exclude cooperation with foreign much earlier than 1829 and i.e. during Constantine's capital, but asked that this be done under the native reforms Mavrocordat, between 1746 and 1749. element, foreign penetration to be limited, which would The cause of these transformations was the set of ultimately result in strengthening the country's internal factors, external ones having only influence. economy. Economic policy "by ourselves", have Peculiarities and specifics of this process were attracted foreign capital in a national program and generated by economic weakness Romanian activities of the national economy beyond his own bourgeoisie. Criteria for assessing the degree of ability. Although after World War ruling circles were penetration of capitalism in our economy were called into active economic life, they were faced with considered to be the share of wage labor in various insufficient equity. sectors of national economy. As a socialist, L. In foreign trade, the Liberals have implemented Pătrăşcanu neoliberal approach, the view toward protectionist tariffs. Drivers P.N.L. have provided in their supporting industrialization and the peasant, the economic programs and forms that had allowed foreign agricultural reform 4, concerns only the scope and participation and the degree of participation. Under nature of ownership fundamentally different. these aspects, even among liberal theorists were different views. Among the views expressed, the vehicle was the opinion expressed by Vintilă Brătianu 126 Knowledge Horizons - Economics