2019 №2 (63) Article 5

M.D. Novikov

SOVIET PEOPLEʼS ATTITUDE TO STATE LOTTERY WINNINGS  IN 1946–1957

UDC 336.3(47)(09)«1946/1957»

The article focuses on Soviet citizensʼ attitude to winnings in the state lottery in 1946–1957. The analysis of peopleʼs letters to the Soviet authorities shows that Soviet citizens expressed conflicting attitudes to national lotteries as a means of paying off the inner debt of the Soviet State. Since the majority of people had little chance of winning in national lotteries, they addressed the authorities hoping to influence the countryʼs financial policy. In their letters, people shared their emotions and fears, complained of their inability to understand the state economic policy, expressed their hope to receive a response. However, Soviet society and Soviet authorities failed to reach a financial compromise. Influenced by public opinion, the Soviet government made a feeble attempt to equalize winning chances. Soviet citizensʼ acceptance of low winning odds served as a manifestation of peopleʼs acceptance of the ideological principles of equalization. The analysis of archival materials shows that the majority of Soviet people treated state lottery winnings as social anomalies.

 

winnings; national lotteries; peopleʼs reaction; Soviet society; state fiscal policy

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