Smuggling Consumer Goods in Soviet Russia in the Period of the New Economic Policy

The purpose of the paper is to analyze reasons for persistence consumer smuggling in Soviet Russia / USSR during period New Economic Policy. study draws upon national and regional archives run by specific government departments as well statistical media sources. authors conclude that main reason trade was shortage goods, which caused a decrease imports reorientation manufacturing towards industrial products, rejection ideology “everyday asceticism”, emergence new bourgeoisie. They believe factors maintaining scale were: disagreements between border guard customs service, leniency punishments smuggling, underdevelopment duty-free trade. show lack led demand smuggled items, transformed within short time (the first post-Revolutionary decade) unorganized carried out individuals into large-scale operation set up organizations each member performed function. demonstrates policies protecting state monopoly foreign steady goods contributed preservation industry. presence illegally imported on market stabilization social situation years It became an alternative channel satisfying material needs urban population. Western products were not only sold from under counter representatives wealthy strata population but also entered cooperative commercial network craft workshops, reduced shortages domestic market. Smuggling 1920s could be classified “victimless crime” because it benefited its perpetrators those who used their services.