HOUSEHOLD SERVICES IN CITIES AND VILLAGES ALTAI KRAI (in 1960–1980s): INEQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract

The article addressed to a concrete historical analysis of the organization and state of consumer services in the towns and villages of the Altai Krai under the conditions of the region planned economic system at the 1960s-1980s. Based on unpublished data of the State Archive of the Altai Krai, on reporting documents of associations and enterprises, on official statistics, on materials of the regional press, the volume and quality of industrial and non-industrial services provided were considered. The focus of state policy on the development of household services and production of consumer goods is noted. According to the reporting documentation on the results of state and public inspections and personal memoirs, typical shortcomings in the consumer services` organization were revealed – low quality of products, lack of products` assortment, long terms of orders fulfillment, insufficient number of workshops, ateliers, workshops, qualified workers, and transport. The conclusion was made about the positive dynamics of the development of the consumer services sphere, about the expansion of the material and technical base, about the number increase of specialized enterprises, which reflected the desire to gradually bring the level of service to the urban and rural population together in order to improve the residents everyday life of the Altai Krai, which economic indicators were higher than the average in terms of the number of enterprises and the volume of RSFSR services.