Railway Network Development and the «Big Economic Breakthrough» in Russia
https://doi.org/10.30932/1992-3252-2022-20-5-12
Abstract
Rail transport has a very significant impact on development of the economy and society. The objective of the study described in the article is to identify, using the methods of historical and statistical analysis, the relationship between development of the Russian railway network and the «big economic breakthrough» that took place from 1885 to 1914 and brought the country to a fundamentally higher level of development.
The analysis begins with a review of the previous period of 1861–1884, during which cardinal institutional changes were carried out and a large-scale railway network was created that connected all the main economic regions of the European part of Russia. Due to this, even then high rates of industrial growth were ensured, but the growth was very volatile.
It has been revealed that during the period of the «big economic breakthrough» it was possible not only to accelerate, but also to increase sustainability of economic development. These results were based on a significant level of availability of railway infrastructure for population already reached by the beginning of the «big economic breakthrough», allowing continuing dynamic development of railway transport and achieving growing intensity of employment of the railway network. The synergy of institutional and transport infrastructure development was of great importance. Due to this, the Russian economy during the period of the «big economic breakthrough» became the world record holder in terms of growth in industrial production and labour productivity, while a significant increase in the human development index was also achieved.
Thus, the study of the relationship between development of the railway network and the «big economic breakthrough» in Russia at the end of 19th – the beginning of 20th century has shown the importance of the synergy of institutional and infrastructural and transport development for successful economic and social modernisation and demonstrated the key role that railway transport in this process.
About the Author
D. A. Macheret
Joint Scientific Council of JSC Russian Railways, Russian University of Transport
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Macheret, Dmitry A., D.Sc. (Economics), Professor, First Vice-Chairman; Professor
Moscow
References
1. Golts, G. A. Culture, economy, transport: using their interrelations in forecasting. Studies on Russian Economic Development, 2000, Iss. 1, pp. 152–167. [Electronic resource]: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=9127482.Last accessed 03.10.2022.
2. Vulfov, A. B. History of Railways of the Russian Empire [Istoriya zheleznykh dorog Rossiiskoi imperii]. Moscow, RIPOL Classic, 2016, 744 p. ISBN 978-5-386-08589-6.
3. Cameron, R. A Concise Economic History of the World: From Palaeolithic Times to the Present. N.Y., Oxford University Press, 1993, 496 p. ISBN 0-19-507446-7.
4. Rosenberg, N., Birdzell, L. E. How the West Grew Rich: The Economist Transformation of the Industrial World. N.Y., Basic Book, 1986, 416 p. ISBN 1850430160.
5. Chandler, A. The Visible Hand. Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 1999, 621 p. ISBN 0-674-94052-0.
6. Razuvaev, A. D. The history of development of inland transport infrastructure: technology and economic aspects. Part 1. World of Transport and Transportation, 2021, Vol. 19, Iss. 6 (97), pp. 92–102. DOI: 10.30932/1992-3252-2021-19-6-11.
7. Izmaikova, A. V. Waves of railway innovative development. World of Transport and Transportation, 2015, Vol. 13, Iss. 5 (60), pp. 26–38. [Electronic resource]: https://mirtr.elpub.ru/jour/article/download/512/801. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
8. Macheret, D. A., Valeev, N. A., Kudryavtseva, A. V. Formation of the railway network: diffusion of epochal innovation and economic growth. Ekonomicheskaya politika, 2018, Vol. 13, Iss. 1, pp. 252–279. DOI: 10.18288/1994-5124-2018-1-10.
9. Razuvaev, A. D. Economic assessment of creation, evolution and strategic development of transport infrastructure (on the example of railway transport) [Ekonomicheskaya otsenka sozdaniya, evolyutsii i strategicheskogo razvitiya transportnoi infrastruktury (na primere zheleznodorozhnogo transporta)]. Moscow, Prometei publ., 2021, 286 p. ISBN 978-5-00172-251-9.
10. Davydov, M. A. Twenty years before the Great War: Witte-Stolypin Russian modernization [Dvadtsat let do Velikoi voiny: rossiiskaya modernizatsiya Vitte-Stolypina]. St. Petersburg, Aletheya publ., 2016, 1081 p. ISBN 978-5-906705-04-4.
11. Lapidus, B. M. Railway business: how to get on the main track [Zheleznodorozhniy biznes: kak vstat na glavniy put]. Moscow, Print Market publ., 2011, 384 p. ISBN 978-5-904571-19-1.
12. Levin, D. Yu. Development of the Russian railway network in 19th century [Razvitie seti zheleznykh dorog Rossii v XIX veke]. Moscow, TS for education on railway transport, 2014, 395 p. ISBN 978-5-89035-716-8.
13. Levin, D. Yu. Construction of the Great Siberian Route. World of Transport and Transportation, 2020, Vol. 18, Iss. 3 (88), pp. 190–213. DOI: 10.30932/1992-3252-2020-18-190-213.
14. Schenk, F. B. Russlands Fahrt in die Moderne. Mobilitat und sozialer Raum im Eisenbahnzeitalter. Stuttgart, Franz Steiner, 2014, 456 p. [Electronic resource]: https://www.academia.edu/9342941/Russlands_Fahrt_in_die_Moderne_Mobilität_und_sozialer_Raum_im_Eisenbahnzeitalter_Stuttgart_2014. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
15. Macheret, D. A. Creation of railway network and acceleration of development of Russia. World of Transport and Transportation, 2012, Vol. 10, Iss. 4 (42), pp. 184–192. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=18060073. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
16. Aksyonenko, N. E., Lapidus, B. M., Misharin, A. S. Railways of Russia: from reform to reform [Zheleznie dorogi Rossii: ot reformy k reforme]. Moscow, Transport publ., 2001, 335 p. ISBN 5-277-02257-0.
17. Gerschenkron, A. Economic Backwardness in Historical Perspective. Transl. from English. Moscow, Publishing house «Delo» of RANEPA, 2015, 534 p. ISBN 978-5-7749-0877-6.
18. Alexander II. Great Russian Encyclopaedia. Vol. 1. Moscow, Scientific publishing house «Great Russian Encyclopaedia», 2005, pp. 435–437. ISBN 5-85270-320-6.
19. Zagorsky, K. Ya. Economics of transport [Ekonomika transporta]. Moscow-Leningrad, Gosizdat publ., 1930, 368 p. [Electronic resource]: https://www.studmed.ru/zagorskiy-kya-ekonomika-transporta_77670b556c4.html. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
20. Golovachev, A. A. History of railway business in Russia [Istoriya zheleznodorozhnogo dela v Rossii]. Moscow, Publishing house «Delo» of RANEPA, 2016, 568 p. ISBN 978-5-7749-1167-7.
21. Golubev, A. A. Concession-induced prosperity of the Russian railroads. Otechestvennie zapiski, 2013, Iss. 3 (54), pp. 271–282. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=21218781. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
22. Smirnov, S. V. Dynamics of industrial production in the USSR and Russia. Part I. Reconstruction experience, 1861–2012 [Dinamika promyshlennogo proizvodstva v SSSR i Rossii. Chast I. Opyt rekonstruktsii, 1861–2012 gody]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 2013, Iss. 6, pp. 59–83. DOI: 10.32609/0042-8736-2013-6-59-83.
23. Sotnikov, E. A., Levin, D. Yu., Alekseev, G. A. The history of development of the system for managing the transportation process in railway transport (domestic and foreign experience) [Istoriya razvitiya sistemy upravleniya perevozochnym protsessom na zheleznodorozhnom transporte (otechestvenniy i zarubezhniy opyt)]. Moscow, Tekhinform publ., 2007, 237 p. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=23489611. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
24. Tsypin, P. E., Razuvaev, A. D., Ledney, A. Yu. On quantitative assessment of creation of transport infrastructure reserves [O kolichestvennoi otsenke sozdaniya rezervov transportnoi infrastruktury]. Modern economic problems of development and operation of transport infrastructure. Proceedings of II International scientific-practical conference. Moscow, RUT (MIIT) publ., 2021, pp. 132–136. ISBN 978-5-6044050-7-9.
25. General Theory of Statistics [Obshchaya teoriya statistiki]. Ed. by A. Ya. Boyarsky, G. L. Gromyko. Moscow, Publishing house of Moscow University, 1985, 376 p. [Electronic resource]: https://www.studmed.ru/boyarskiy-aya-obschaya-teoriya-statistiki_2338133c89b.html. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
26. Macheret, D. A. Role of population density, mobility and the movement of material goods in different concepts of economic growth. Voprosy teoreticheskoi ekonomiki, 2021, Iss. 4 (13), pp. 50–78. DOI: 10.52342/2587-7666VTE_2021_4_50_78.
27. History of railway transport in Russia, 19th-21st centuries [Istoriya zheleznodorozhnogo transporta Rossii, XIX–XXI vv.]. Ed. by E. I. Pivovar. Moscow, Meshcheryakov Publishing House, 2012, 736 p. ISBN 978-5-91045-509-6.
28. Soloviyova, A. M. Railway transport in Russia in the second half of 19th century [Zheleznodorozhniy transport Rossii vo vtoroi polovine XIX v.]. Moscow, Nauka publ., 1975, 318 p. [Electronic resource]: https://vas-s-al.livejournal.com/930457.html. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
29. Lyashchenko, P. I. History of the national economy of the USSR. Volume II. Capitalism [Istoriya narodnogo khozyaistva SSSR. Tom II. Kapitalizm]. Moscow, Gospolitizdat publ., 1952, 736 p. [Electronic resource]: https://vas-s-al.livejournal.com/778694.html. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
30. Smirnov, S. V. Dynamics of industrial production in the USSR and Russia. Part II. Crises and cycles, 1861–2012 [Dinamika promyshlennogo proizvodstva v SSSR i Rossii. Chast II. Krizisy i tsikly, 1861–2012 gody]. Voprosy ekonomiki, 2013, Iss. 7, pp. 138–153. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32609/0042-8736-2013-7-138-153.
31. Mises, L. von. Business Cycle Theory. Transl. from English. Chelyabinsk, Socium publ., 2019, 875 p. ISBN 978-5-91603-071-6.
32. Mises, L. von. Human Action: A Treatise on Economics. Transl. from English. Chelyabinsk, Socium publ., 2019, 875 p. ISBN 978-5-91603-071-6.
33. Macheret, D. A. Economic crisis and transport. World of Transport and Transportation, 2010, Vol. 8, Iss. 2 (30), pp. 4–13. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=14983800. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
34. Macheret, D. A., Epishkin, I. A. Mutual influence of institutional and transport factors of economic development: a retrospective analysis [Vzaimnoe vliyanie institutsionalnykh i transportnykh faktorov ekonomicheskogo razvitiya: retrospektivniy analiz]. Journal of Institutional Studies, 2017, Vol. 9, Iss. 4, pp. 80–100. DOI: 10.17835/2076-6297.2017.9.4.080-100.
35. A century of railways [Stoletie zheleznykh dorog]. Moscow, Transpechat publ., 1925, 261 p. [Electronic resource]: https://rusist.info/book/10437580. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
36. Smil, V. Energy and Civilization: A History. Cambridge, MA, The MIT Press, 2017, 564 p. ISBN 0262035774.
37. Macheret, D. A. What is evidenced by the hundredyear dynamics of the indicators of the largest railway systems [O chem svidetelstvuet stoletnyaa dinamika pokazatelei krupneishikh zheleznodorozhnykh sistem]. Ekonomicheskaya politika, 2016, Vol. 11, Iss. 6, pp. 138–169. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=27810881. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
38. Mironov, B. N. Russian Empire: from tradition to modernity: In 3 volumes. Vol. 3 [Rossiiskaya imperiya: ot traditsii k modern: v 3 t. T. 3]. St. Petersburg, Dmitry Bulanin publ., 2018, 992 p. ISBN 978-5-86007-858-1.
39. Gregory P. Finding Truth in Historical Data. Ekonomicheskaya istoriya : ezhegodnik, 1999, Vol. 1999, 1–500. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=28364458. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
40. Economic history of the world: in 6 volumes [Ekonomicheskaya istoriya mira: v 6 t.]. Ed. by M. V. Konotopov. Vol. 3. Moscow, Knorus publ., 2015, 510 p. [Electronic resource] : https : //rusneb.ru/catalog/000199_000009_02000013044/. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
41. Gregory, P. Economic growth of the Russian Empire (late 19th–early 20th century): New calculations and estimates. Transl. from English. Moscow, Rosspen publ., 2003, 256 p. ISBN 5-8243-0291-X.
42. Khachaturov, T. S. Economics of transport [Ekonomika transporta]. Moscow, Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1959, 587 p. [Electronic resource]: https://www.logistics-gr.com/index . php?option=com_content&id=9859&c-72&Itemid=99. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
43. Railway Renaissance: fundamental scientific research and breakthrough innovations. Collective monograph of members and scientific partners of Joint Scientific Council of Russian Railways. Ed. by B. M. Lapidus. Noginsk, Analytics Rodis, 2015, 252 p. ISBN 978-5-905277-63-4.
44. Izmaikova, A. V. Economic evaluation of the innovation-oriented development of railway transport. Ph.D. (Economics) thesis [Ekonomicheskaya otsenka innovatsionno-orientirovannogo razvitiya zheleznodorozhnogo transporta. Dis… kand. ekon. nauk]. Moscow, MGUPS, 2016, 182 p. [Electronic resource]: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=26565350. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
45. A Global Vision for Railway Development. Paris, UIC, 2015, 44 p. [Electronic resource]: https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/global_vision_for_railway_development.pdf. Last accessed 03.10.2022.
46. Lapidus, B. M. The future of transport. World trends with a projection on Russia [Budushchee transporta. Mirovie trendy s proektsiei na Rossiyu]. Moscow, Prometei publ., 2020, 226 p. ISBN 978-5-907224-52-8.
Review
For citations:
Macheret D.A. Railway Network Development and the «Big Economic Breakthrough» in Russia. World of Transport and Transportation. 2022;20(5):104-112. https://doi.org/10.30932/1992-3252-2022-20-5-12
Views:
324
Email this article 