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Italy History A-Level > M3- Economic Policy > Flashcards

M3- Economic Policy Flashcards

(105 cards)

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1
Q

how did Mussolini try to appeal to industrialists when he came into power?

A

he appointed a conservative minister of finance
Alberto De’Stefani

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2
Q

what economic policies did De’Stefani implement?

A

privatised the telephone sector

reduced state expenditure

deregulated the economy which allowed industries to operate more freely

cut protective tarrifs

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3
Q

what is a protective tariff?

A

tariff which protects domestic trade by raising the costs for Italian industries to import from abroad

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4
Q

how were De’Stefani’s policies successful?

A

Italy saw a a increase in manufacturing production

Italy began a period of rapid economic growth

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5
Q

what did De’Stefani struggle with?

A

dealing with the inflationary problems which came with rapid growth

agricultural opposition to cuts in tarrifs

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6
Q

who replaced De’Stefani and when?

A

July 1925
replaced by Volpi

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7
Q

when was the Battle for Lira launched?

A

August 1926

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8
Q

by 1926 how many Lira to £1?

A

150

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9
Q

what was Mussolini’s view on the importance of the Lira?

A

he saw the strength of the Lira to be representative of the strength of the Fascist state

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10
Q

when was the exchange rate fixed?

A

December 1927

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11
Q

what was the new exchange rate to the £?

A

90 lira to £1

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12
Q

how was the Battle for Lira a success?

A

had increased Mussolini’s prestige both at home and abroad —> SHOWED HIS POWER AND STRENGTH

made him more popular with foreign bankers

(these were his initial aims for the Battle for Lira)

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13
Q

how was the Battle for Lira a failure?

A

the detrimental affect it had on the Italian economy
- export market collapsed as Italian goods were too expensive
- unemployment trebled
- consumer import market failed due to high tarrifs

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14
Q

what did Mussolini do which meant that the Battle for Lira was a failure?

A

he had introduced high tariffs on certain foreign imports

meant that the cost for foreign goods for a consumer increased

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15
Q

which industry went into depression after the revaluation of the Lira?

A

the textile industry

Italian goods were now more expensive to import for foreign countries
meant industries reliant on an export market collapsed

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16
Q

which industries benefitted from the Battle for Lira?

A

steel
ship building
armaments

because they were able to benefit from cheaper tariff-free raw material imports

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17
Q

what did the Rocco Law of 1926 do?

A

ban all strikes and lockouts

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18
Q

what was the Corporate State?

A

each industry would have a corporation which would have both employers and fascist trade unions (which represented the workers)

they would discuss conflicts of pay and working conditions

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19
Q

what was set up to deal with major disagreements in corporations?

A

a labour court which was administered by the Ministry of Corporations

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20
Q

who was in charge of the Ministry of Corporations?

A

Bottai

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21
Q

what was the Corporate State composed of?

A

Ministry of Corporations
Fascist trade unions
Confindustria

third way between workers and employers

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22
Q

why were Confindustria become frustrated by the Corporate State?

A

gave more power and recognition to Fascist Trade unions
wanted businessmen to be in charge of industry

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23
Q

what was the Charter for Labour in 1927?

A

a statement of intent from Mussolini which sided with Confindustria

private business was deemed the most appropriate method of business
employers were given more freedom over change to working hours and conditions

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24
Q

was the Charter for Labour successful?

A

nope
was clearly a way to win over more support from the industrialists

did little to improve the rights of workers

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25
what happened to the Fascist syndicates in 1928?
they were split into 6 parts their leader Rossoni was removed
26
how many corporations were there by 1934?
22
27
on paper what were these corporations supposed to be able to do?
fix the price of goods settle industrial disputes advise govt economic policy
28
what did these corporations actually do?
nothing employers were represented in discussions HOWEVER workers were NOT
29
who represented workers in the corporations?
Fascist trade unions led by fascist officials appointed by Mussolini meant that Mussolini could decide the outcome of industrial disputes
30
who did the Fascist trade unions often side with in industrial disputes?
the employers
31
when did Fascist trade unions side with the workers?
over sick pay and paid national holidays
32
in what ways was the Corporate State a success?
it had created jobs for loyal fascists who could work in the fascist trade unions it was good propaganda: showed that Mussolini had created the 'third way' which had supposedly put an end to all employer-employee conflict did improve working conditions: sick pay paid national holidays led to more government intervention and control over industry pleased the industrialists
33
in what ways was the Corporate State a failure?
WAS A FACADE did nothing to improve the rights of workers sided with Confindustria in most disputes employer-employee conflict WAS NEVER SOLVED, instead it was suppressed showed weakness of Mussolini in dealing with Confindustria: had managed to put itself in a powerful position from which it was untouchable
34
when was the Wall Street Crash?
October 1929
35
what impacts did the WSC have on the Italian economy?
many Italian companies and banks collapsed production fell unemployment rose
36
how much did car production fall after the WSC?
50%
37
unemployment in Italy 1929
500,000
38
unemployment in Italy 1933
2 million
39
what did the government encourage to deal with the Depression?
price fixing cartelisation
40
by how much were the wages of worker's cuts in 1930?
12%
41
why was cartelisation a success?
mergers between larger and smaller companies reduced competition as well as allowing for the fixation of prices to reduce costs
42
how did the government deal with rising unemployment?
public work schemes building roads, houses and electrifying the railway
43
how many km of railway were electrified thanks to public work schemes?
5000km
44
what was the IMI?
state funded loans to Italian banks which allowed them to stay afloat
45
how many lire did the IMI scheme fund through loans?
5 billion lire
46
what was the IRI?
government bought shares in banking, industry and commerce to prevent companies from going bankrupt and collapsing
47
how much of Italian industry became state-owned?
20%
48
by 1939 which industries were mainly state-owned?
shipbuilding electricity steel work
49
example of an Italian ship built
SS Rex
50
why were the IMI and IRI both successful?
both served as examples of govt intervention which saved both banks and industry ensured that the Italian people could be confident in the economy
51
how was the response to the Depression a success?
had ensured that Italian companies and banks were kept afloat through IMI and IRI dealt with the rise in unemployment through public work schemes through cartelisation companies were able to develop and grow increased state intervention gave Mussolini more power over industry, something he needed in order to prepare for war
52
how was the response to the Depression a failure?
IRI and IMI schemes were VERY EXPENSIVE govt had to raise taxes to 20%
53
what was Autarky?
economic self-sufficiency
54
why did Mussolini think Autarky was important?
the Great Depression led to a decline in overseas trade in Italy the Invasion of Abyssinia led to the League of Nations imposing economic sanctions Mussolini wanted to prepare for an increasingly likely world war
55
in what ways did economic policy conduct Autarky?
bilateral agreements devaluing of the Lira expansion of IRI
56
bilateral agreements
ensured that the value of imports strictly matched the value of exports meant that Italy did not have to use currency or gold to pay
57
devaluing the Lira
October 1936 boosted Italian export industry as Italian good became more cheaper to purchase
58
expansion of IRI
govt took control of more private firms and encouraged these firms to seek raw materials and energy from the Italian Empire also encouraged the production of substitutes
59
under Autarky how much of ship-building came under govt control?
80%
60
substitute to wool
Lanital
61
substitute to cotton
Rayon
62
what were the limits to achieving Autarky?
Mussolini needed oil, coal and iron in order to sustain a war industry these raw materials were not found in Italy and so needed to be imported (defeating the purpose of Autarky)
63
how much lire was spent on Autarkic measures by 1938?
60 billion lire
64
why was the economy unable to balance the Autarkic expenditure and revenue?
Mussolini was unwilling to increase taxes in order to ensure popularity thus other, less effective methods were used to balance the books
65
how was Autarky a failure?
it failed in Mussolini's aims to make Italy self-sufficient for a major war it was costing the govt too much to maintain complete Autarky was not even established with the need for oil, iron and coal meaning imports were still occuring
66
how was Autarky a success?
greater government intervention meant companies could be aligned towards war production development of synthetic alternatives for raw materials bilateral agreements and the devaluing of the Lira did help Italian businesses grow
67
when was the Battle for Births announced?
May 1927
68
what was the aim of the Battle for Births?
to encourage Italians to increase their family size
69
what was the target populating by 1960?
60 million
70
for what reasons did Mussolini want a larger population?
economic military
71
economic reasons
larger population increases competition for employment and thus keep wages loaw also increases the consumer market
72
military reasons
Mussolini wanted a larger army which he believed could only be achieved through a larger population
73
which group did the Battle for Births mainly appeal to?
the Catholics natalism was something the RCC encouraged heavily with the role of women as a mother very important
74
what were given to families with a large number of children?
tax reductions loans prizes from Mussolini himself
75
what was the Bachelor's Tax?
tax on men who were not married put pressure on unmarried men to get married and have children
76
who were more likely to get a government job?
married men with families
77
how were maternal duties promoted in Italy?
contraception and birth control were banned women's employment in industry was opposed by lowering their wages
78
why were women still being employed in Italy?
by lowering the wages for women, companies started letting go men and employing women to save money poorer women also preferred to keep working for income
79
proportion of married females in employment
33%
80
birth rate in 1911
147
81
birth rate in 1936
112
82
why was the Battle for Births a failure?
BIRTH RATE WENT DOWN target of 60 million was never reached women were still being employed with Italy having the 2nd largest women workforce in Europe
83
when was the Battle for Grain announced?
July 1925
84
what was the aim of the Battle for Grain?
to free Italy from the slavery of foreign bread a major Autarkical policy
85
how were foreign wheat imports discouraged?
introduction of wheat tariffs
86
how was wheat production increased?
farmers were subsidised by the state education on new farming techniques state provided fertilisers, machinery and resistant seeds
87
how much did wheat production increase by in northern and central Italy?
50%
88
which valley was key to Italian grain production?
Po Valley
89
what crops were sidelined in favour of wheat?
olives and tomatoes loss of export market
90
did the Battle for Grain extend to the south?
nope
91
how much more extra Lira were the Italian people spending on food?
400 lira
92
how was the Battle for Grain a success?
had increased Italian grain production (major propaganda success) major reform to agriculture with more efficient farming did lead to self-sufficiency of grain (grain imports dropped by 75%)
93
how was the Battle for Grain a failure?
the agricultural reform did not extend to the south valuable crops like olives and tomatoes were neglected so major export industries were lost caused the cost of living to go up WAS SUCCESSFUL FOR GRAIN BUT SHIT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE
94
what was the Battle for Land?
ruralisation major land reclamation and improvement project
95
what were the aims of the Battle for Land?
to increase arable land in Italy prevent over-migration into cities through ruralism
96
what was the Empty the Cities campaign?
campaign in 1928 to prevent migration from rural areas to cities
97
what was Bonfica Integrale?
massive land reclamation and improvement wanted to create more arable and accessible land for peasants
98
examples of Bonfica Integrale
marsh draining irrigation road building house building
99
example of major land reclamation
Pontine Marshes were drained and farms were set up 50km of land
100
by how much had malaria been reduced by draining the marshes?
50%
101
who benefitted the most from the Battle for Land?
land-owners NOT the peasants land-owners now had more land to own as well as better facilities led to more larger farming estates
102
why was the Battle for Land an example of Mussolini neglecting the north-south problem?
poor farmers in the south were not able to benefit from land reclamation schemes with the south again being neglected AND they could no longer move to the USA as they shut their borders in 1920
103
how many Italians actually left rural areas?
500,000
104
how was the Battle for Land a success?
it had reclaimed land for more farming improved Italian infrastructure through Bonfica Integrale created thousands of jobs for the unemployed increased the health of the Italian people (malaria) was a major propaganda success
105
how was the Battle for Land a failure?
further exemplified the north-south divide landowners took more power RUM was still happening with Rome's population doubling only 5% of the land claimed to be improved was actually improved

Italy History A-Level (20 decks)

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