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Economy of Italy Under Fascism, 1922–1943

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Economy of Italy Under Fascism, 1922–1943
Italy had emerged from World War I in a poor and weakened condition. An unpopular and costly conflict had been borne by an underdeveloped country. Post-war there was inflation, massive debts and an extended depression. By 1920 the economy was in a massive convulsion - mass unemployment, food shortages, strikes, etc.
Contents [hide]
1 Fascist economic policy
2 First steps
3 Firmer intervention
4 The Corporative phase
5 The Great Depression
6 After the Depression
7 References
8 See also
[edit]Fascist economic policy

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Benito Mussolini came to power in 1922 and transformed the country 's economy along fascist ideology. He was not an economic radical; while he reshaped the political scene he neither had nor sought a free-hand with the economy. He was prepared to align with industrial groups and forge an accommodation with capitalism. As with Nazi Germany the economic policies of Mussolini are difficult to define. There is a messy tangle between economic theory and economic practice which leads to two opposing views - either Mussolini had an economic plan, or that he did not, but instead reacted to changes without forward planning. [1].
To proponents of the first view, Mussolini did have a clear economic agenda, both long and short-term, from the beginning of his rule. The government had two main objectives - to modernise the economy, and to remedy the country 's lack of strategic resources.
To stimulate development Mussolini pushed the modern capitalistic sector in the service of the state, intervening directly as needed to create a collaboration between the industrialists, the workers, and the state. The government crushed fundamental class conflicts in favour of corporatism. In the short-term the government worked to reform the widely-abused tax system, dispose of inefficient



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