Public Works as a Measure of Famine Relief in Russia. 1891–1914

Abstract

Introduction. The article deals with the program of public works introduced by Russian government in the late XIX – early XX centuries as a measure of famine relief. It provides the detailed account of public works campaign of 1911–1912, which was the largest in terms of government spending and number of employed persons. Materials and Methods. The study relies on a large body of archival sources and published statistical data. Results. The study demonstrates the increasing scale of public works programs between 1891 and 1914. The number of employed persons rose from several tens of thousands in 1891 to almost 3 million in 1911. The share of wages in total expenses grew from 40 percent in 1891 to 80 percent in 1911. There is also some evidence for considerable improvement of quality of the public works projects. Discussion and Conclusions. On the example of public works, I demonstrate how the bureaucratic apparatus of Russia adapted to the implementation of the new managerial objectives. I conclude that Tsarist state was capable to implement the urgent and effective measures of government economic intervention to prevent social collapse.