Obchodní politika meziválečného Československapokus o shrnutí

Abstract

The first Czechoslovak republic, being a state orientated towars an export economy, had to take into account foreign trade, especially support of export and consequently it had to create its trade policy. However development in this field cannot be evaluated unambiguously. The state influence varied from period to period, which depended on the whole economic situation of the republic. Generally we can say that the government did not interfere in individual sectors evenly. The state interfered in foreign trade not only very little and with great delay, but especially under some pressure. Elements of negative trade policy came into effect more quickly. But at the time of succesful economic development these measures were cancelled slowly and without willingness. It was connected with the political influence of the agrarian party, which protected its interests without paying attention to the general economic needs of Czechoslovakia. On the contrary, positive elements came into effect after long fights between interest groups. Thus the loosening of the trade in the twentieth went very slowly although conditions for its fullfilment were created by the Institute for Foreign Trade in 1921. Support of the export, which was at the time of the world economic crisis urgently needed, came with delay while protective measures restored during the crisis, faded away even more slowly during the thirties. The economic policy of Czechoslovakia between the wars was indefinite, invariable and very slow. The state focused mainly on negative measures heading to protectionism, which was for the export economy of Czechoslovakia disadvantegeous. Of great importance was the fact that from the beginning of the twenties till 1934 the Ministery of Trade was without intermission ruled by the national democratic party, which was closely linked with the Central Union of Czechoslovakian Enterpreneurs. They had thus a chance to influence the trade policy of the leadership of the union, no clear economic policy came out of the union. Other conditions were different points of view of Czechoslovakia and other central Europeancountries towards economic cooperation, rising German competition, necessary orientation on other markets, poor transport conditions, the influence of petty political interests on the national economy. All these factors were reflected in the development of foreign trade in Czechoslovakia between the wars.