Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich - Soviet economist and sociologist, science fiction writer and utopian, author of the concept of laboring peasant economy and moral economy. He is a prominent representative of the generation of Russian intelligentsia of the early 20th century. Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich, whose photo is located below, devoted his whole life to the study of the organization of agriculture. His concept was not accepted by the Soviet government. However, since the 1990s, scientists have increasingly begun to turn to the conclusions of Chayanov. Let’s try to figure out what the relevance of the concept of labor peasant farming is connected with.
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich: biography
But can a scientist’s conclusions be considered without understanding how he came to them? So let's start with a biography. Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich was born in 1888 in a merchant family living in Moscow. Under the influence of relatives in 1906, he entered the Moscow Agricultural Institute after graduating from Voskresensky College. Already in his first year, he showed interest in scientific activity. Mancer was interested in him. As you know, the latter is the founder of the theory of marginal utility. In 1908, Chayanov visited Italy, in 1909 - Belgium. It should be noted that even at such a young age he became acquainted with these countries as a real scientist, and not an ordinary tourist. Impressed by the first trip, Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich, whose bibliography will then consist of many not only scientific, but also artwork, formulated a program to familiarize himself with foreign experience in organizing agriculture. The first article of the future scientist was devoted to cooperation in Italy. During his studies at the university, Chayanov published 18 scientific articles. He was offered a place in the department of agricultural economics, and he agreed. In 1912, Chayanov received the title of master. Then he went for a year to internship abroad. During this time he had a chance to work in Paris and Berlin. During the internship, he completed his first important work, Essays on the Theory of the Labor Economy.
Relations with the Soviet government
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich, whose contribution to the economy consists in developing the concept of peasant studies, was not a theorist and always strove to put his findings into practice. He was a member of various initiatives, a member of the Council of Cooperative Congresses. Chayanov’s candidacy was even nominated for the post of Minister of Agriculture, but he held this position only for two weeks. In the end, the cooperators had to reconcile with the Soviet regime. Since 1919, Chayanov has been working at the People’s Commissariat for Agriculture. Around then, he also begins to engage in literary work. In 1922, Chayanov was appointed director of the research institute at the seminary on agricultural economics. In the same year he marries and goes on a two-year business trip abroad. In 1923 his main work, Organization of the Peasant Economy, was published. He is beginning to be considered a bourgeois professor. In 1930, Chayanov was arrested. He was charged with organizing the "Labor Peasant Party". An open hearing in this case did not take place. In prison, the scientist continues to work on his concept. Then Chayanov is exiled to Alma-Ata, where he continues to work in the Commissariat of Agriculture. In 1937, on a ridiculous charge, the scientist was sentenced to death. The decision was executed immediately, Chayanov was only 49 years old.
The origins of the concept
The creative heritage of the founder of peasant studies is extremely diverse. It includes not only scientific works, but also works of art. However, they are all united by a common theme. Artworks illustrate complex scientific findings in an accessible way. Chayanov brought new things to all areas of the agrarian and economic direction. The following stages can be distinguished in the development of the theory of the peasant labor economy. Among them:
- The existence of family farms.
- Creation of agricultural cooperatives.
- The development of the agricultural industry as a whole.
Family Labor Theory
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich is the founder of a whole direction. At the end of the 19th century there was a crisis of landowners. This led to an agrarian crisis. The Stolypin reforms did not work, and he deepened. Unresolved problems in the agricultural sector demanded the emergence of a new theory of agricultural organization. Chayanov felt the trends of the time. He believed that the main feature of the Russian economy is nepotism. It influenced such views of Chayanov and his studies at the institute. Indeed, among the teachers of Chayanov, the largest agricultural specialists, professors N. N. Khudyakov, A. F. Fortunatov, D. N. Pryanishnikov stood out.
Organization of peasant farming
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich was not a Marxist. However, he was largely close to the views of the author of "Capital" regarding the essence of the peasants as workers and owners at once. The prominent Russian economist of the early 20th century understood the need for fundamental changes. He put personal labor activity of a peasant family at the forefront. Based on the study of foreign experience and empirical data, the scientist puts forward the idea of an organization plan and the concept of labor balance. They constituted the core of peasant studies. According to the economist, the optimal size of an agricultural enterprise depends on the size of the family.
Planning
The aim of the peasant family is to satisfy their own needs. The more optimally organized the economy, the more this happens. Therefore, a plan is necessary. If this is done correctly, then the stability of the enterprise and the highest labor efficiency are ensured. Each peasant economy should be considered as part of the system. Therefore, it depends on the stage of development of society. The family as an economic entity should use all the possibilities of the current situation. The organizational plan helps to understand the internal structure of the economy, the relationship between individual industries, financial turnover and labor costs for various activities. It includes:
- Labor balance. It shows the relationship between agriculture and fisheries.
- Production balance. It reflects the ratio between livestock and stock.
- Cash balance. It characterizes income and expenses.
Specifications
Chayanov believed that the key to drawing up a plan is not a certain sequence of reasoning, but the application of criteria. Among them:
- At the forefront should be the family's labor opportunities and their relationship with their consumer needs.
- Land ownership must be considered. It can be a limiting factor.
- An important criterion is also the organization of the territory. Bad location has a negative impact on the effectiveness of the peasant economy.
- It is necessary to take into account the features of the organization of labor. Be sure to pay attention to transportation costs.
Thus, the author managed to combine all aspects of planning the development of small family agricultural enterprises.
Labor balance
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich - an economist who developed a model that allows you to determine the natural limit of any business entity. He said that the result should always be determined by the factor of production, which is available in the most limited volume. Chayanov applies such general economic categories to family farms as rent, interest, income, prices. He identifies two groups of factors of their profitability: domestic and national. The first include labor resources and the intensity of their application.
Differentiation of peasant farms
The last period of the scientist’s work fell on 1927-1930. Together with other economists, he dealt with the problem of differentiation of the peasantry. He showed that it arose because of the disharmony of natural and simple commodity economies. The first gravitated to the central regions with fertile black soil, the second - to the largest ports. Perestroika led to an increase in migration flows, which is the reason for differentiation. Therefore, the stratification of society, according to Chayanov, was not associated with social class processes, but with the splitting off of new types of farms. To the latter, he included farmers, credit-usurious, trade and support. To solve the problem, the scientist considered it necessary to conduct cooperative collectivization. She and lending were supposed to help the village proletarians return to the traditional family-labor model.
The value of the concept for the development of science
Chayanov Alexander Vasilievich is a sociologist and economist, whose work is well known to modern scientists studying the agricultural system. However, it was precisely for these views that he suffered. Stalin personally criticized the theory. For her, Chayanov was first exiled, and then shot at the age of 49. However, despite all this, the theory continued to live. In the 1980s, interest in her began to renew. Today, many agrarian economists still turn to her and find inspiration in her.
