BULGARIA, The Republic of Bulgaria, a state in Eastern Europe. Bulgaria is located in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders in the north with Romania - along the Danube, in the south - with Greece and Turkey, in the west - with Yugoslavia and Macedonia. In the east it is washed by the Black Sea (the length of the coastline is 378 km). The capital and largest city of Bulgaria is Sofia with a population of 1.114 million (December 1995).

The territory of the country strikes with a variety of landscapes: in the north - the blue Danube; in the central part - long mountain ranges and forests of various species composition (pine, oak, beech predominate); in the south - vast fertile plains, where intensive agriculture is developed; in the east - the Black Sea with famous sandy beaches. Small villages are scattered on the slopes of the mountains. Cities are confined to intermountain valleys, large rivers and the Black Sea coast.

Terrain relief. More than 2/3 of the country's territory is occupied by lowlands, plains and highlands (up to 600 m). Average absolute heights approx. 470 m. The following large natural areas are distinguished: Stara Planina (Balkan Mountains) and the Danube Plain in the north, the Rhodope Mountains and the Upper Thracian (or Maritskaya) lowland in the south.

The Stara Planina Mountains have a latitudinal stretch from the Black Sea coast to the border with Yugoslavia and Macedonia and a length of 400 km. The highest peak of Stara Planina is the majestic Mount Botev (2376 m). There are numerous convenient passes through the mountain ranges. The busiest of them, located northeast of Sofia, is crossed by a highway. The Shipka Pass (1334 m) is widely known historically, near the central part of the mountain range. In 1878 it became the scene of a battle between Turkish and Russian troops, as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from Turkish rule. To the south of the Stara Planina Mountains, parallel to them, there are two lower mountain ranges - Sredna Gora and Syrnena Gora, separated by the valley of the upper reaches of the Tundzha River (the so-called "Valley of Roses", famous for plantations of this crop, grown for obtaining rose oil for the perfume industry).

Between the Danube, which forms a significant part of the Bulgarian-Romanian border, and the Stara Planina, there is the Lower Danube Plain - the main breadbasket of Bulgaria. It has a gentle slope to the Danube, where it ends with a steep ledge. The main tributaries of the Danube in Bulgaria are: Iskar (originates in the Rhodopes); Osam, Yantra, Rusenski Lom and others with sources in the Stara Planina mountains.

The southwestern part of Bulgaria is almost entirely occupied by the Rhodope mountain system, which includes the Rhodopes proper, as well as the Pirin and Rila mountains (with the highest peak in Bulgaria, Musala - 2925 m). The Rhodopes are rich in minerals and forests.

To the north and northeast of the Rhodope Mountains there is an alluvial plain, confined to the valley of the Maritsa River. To the east of the river valley up to the Black Sea are low mountains.

Climate. Significant mountain systems, significant elevation changes and other factors determine noticeable regional climatic differences. The northern part of the country is characterized by a temperate continental climate; The Lower Danube Plain is open to northern winds in winter. On the one hand, the Stara Planina Mountains prevent the movement of these winds in a southerly direction, and on the other hand, they serve as a barrier to the Mediterranean air currents that shape the climate in the south of the country. In the Maritsa Valley, winters are quite cold, but the Mediterranean influence is already noticeable. As you approach the Black Sea, the climate becomes milder, essentially Mediterranean.

The average January temperatures in the Maritsa valley and on the Black Sea coast are approx. +4° C, and to the north of the Stara Planina Mountains they drop to -4° C. In the mountains, winter temperatures are even lower, and there is snow for several months. Summers are hot (with the exception of the mountains), in most of the low plains the average temperature in July is approx. 21 ° C. The duration of the frost-free period ranges from 180 to 260 days. Droughts often occur on the plains, and a lot of precipitation falls in the mountains (up to 1900 mm per year), mainly in the form of snow. The amount of atmospheric precipitation is closely related to the features of the relief: the plains and intermountain valleys protected by mountains rarely receive more than 600 mm per year.

Natural resources. The rivers of Bulgaria, originating mainly in the Stara Planina mountains, flow either north into the Danube or south into the Maritsa, which flows into the Aegean Sea. They are widely used for field irrigation and power generation. The hydropower potential of the country as a whole is estimated at about 25 billion kWh per year, but at present it is used only by 10%.

Depending on the combination of climatic features, relief and nature of vegetation, different soils are formed. Within the limits of the Lower Danube Plain, composed mainly of loess, chernozems are developed, which have a porous structure, fine texture, high moisture capacity and contain a large amount of humus. All this determines their high fertility. Brown soils predominate in the Maritsa valley, while gray podzolic and mountain meadow soils are common in the mountains. In floodplains and coastal areas alluvial soils are found. The high natural fertility of soils in a number of regions of the country has decreased due to soil erosion and excessive use of natural organic and mineral fertilizers.

The reserves of minerals in Bulgaria are small, and their extraction and processing occupy an insignificant place in the economy. Small oil deposits cannot replace the main type of mineral fuel - coal. Lignites (brown coal) make up 92% of all coal reserves, which are estimated at 5-10 billion tons. Sofia region. In addition, there is approx. 40 minor brown coal deposits. A small amount of anthracite is mined in the vicinity of Svoge. Since the country is poor in fuel and energy resources, it is forced to widely import oil, gas and coal.

Uranium ore is mined in the Sofia region and in Sredna Gora. The country's total iron ore reserves are estimated at only 10 million tons. There are several iron ore deposits with impurities of manganese, chromium, and molybdenum. Deposits of lead, zinc and copper are also of economic importance. Small reserves of gold have been discovered in the Stara Planina mountains. Tungsten and bismuth ore is mined in the Rhodopes. In Bulgaria, there are more than 600 natural mineral springs with healing properties with water temperatures ranging from 8° to 100°C.

Plant world and animal world. The main types of natural vegetation in Bulgaria are forest and steppe temperate zones and Mediterranean forests. Typical steppes are common on the Dobruja plateau in the northeastern part of the country. The same vegetation exists in the Lower Danube Lowland, although the steppes there are interspersed with forests. In the foothills and the lower altitudinal belt of the Stara Planina Mountains, deciduous forests grow; coniferous forests, and in the uppermost zone - alpine meadows. In the south-east of the country, in the Maritsa valley, hard-leaved forest formations of the Mediterranean type are found. The climate here is favorable for the cultivation of cotton, tobacco, mulberries, grapes and vegetables. In the border regions with Turkey and Greece, typical Mediterranean fruits are cultivated - citrus fruits and figs.

Forests in 1987 occupied 3.8 million hectares, or approx. 30% of the area of the country. Of these, about 31% are coniferous, and the rest are deciduous with a predominance of beech, oak, ash and hornbeam. Only 15% of forest plantations are of industrial importance, and the rest are predominantly low-productive or perform water protection and soil protection functions.

The fauna of the country has suffered greatly due to the reduction of forested areas. Bear, wild boar, deer, and chamois are still found in the forests. The ferret, weasel, wolf, fox, badger, jackal are also common; from rodents - a squirrel, a hare, a dormouse. In the 1970s, packs of wolves became a real disaster, attacking villages on winter nights in search of sheep or calves, but in recent years the number of these predators has significantly decreased.

POPULATION

Demography. As a result of territorial changes and natural growth, the population of Bulgaria increased from 3.155 million in 1880 to 7.54 million. man in 2003.

The birth rate, formerly one of the highest in Europe (36.6 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1920-1924), fell sharply after the Second World War. In the decade after 1966, it grew slightly as the state, changing its previous population policy, began to encourage large families and restrict abortions. However, this policy did not change the demographic situation. In 1980, the birth rate was 15.5 per 1,000 inhabitants, and the death rate was 10.5; in 1989 these figures were 12.9 and 12.0 respectively, in 1994 - 9.4 and 13.2, and in 2003 - 8.02 and 14.34. The natural increase in population in 1989 was 0.1, and since 1990 there has been a trend towards depopulation. In 1990, the country's population decreased by 0.4%, in 1994 - by 3.8%, and in 2003 - up to 1.09%. According to official Bulgarian statistics, between 1966 and 2003 the infant mortality rate dropped from 25 to 13.7 per 1,000 newborns. Life expectancy in July 2003 was 68.26 years for men and 75.56 years for women and was one of the lowest in Europe. The rapid growth of the urban population has led to a change in the country's traditional rural lifestyle. In 1976 the proportion of the urban population was 59%, in 1996 it reached 70%.

ethnic roots. Bulgarians belong to the southern group of Slavs. During the period of their ethnic formation, an important component was the Bulgars (Bulgars) - a Turkic people of Asian origin, who in the 5th century. AD created his own states between the Volga and the Ural mountains. Arising in the 7th century AD a fairly strong state union on the territory between the Don and the Kuban was called the Great Bulgaria, which was ruled by Khan Kubrat. Under pressure from other Asian tribes moving westward, chiefly the Khazars, this alliance collapsed. One group of Bulgars, led by Kotrag, was pushed to the north - to the Middle Volga region. Here in the 14-15 centuries. the feudal state of the Volga-Kama Bulgaria was formed with the capital Bulgar (or Bulgar) - a large shopping center, which lasted until the appearance in the 15th century. Kazan Khanate. The second group, led by Asparukh, the son of Kurbat, moved westward along the Black Sea coast, and then up the Danube. They crossed this river and, together with the Slavic tribes in 681 AD. created the Bulgarian state in Moesia and Dacia (now it is the north-eastern part of Bulgaria). The nomadic Bulgars soon assimilated with the local Slavic population; they adopted their language and to a large extent the way of life of the rural Slavs. The local Thracian tribes also assimilated with the Bulgars.

By the 10th c. Bulgarians in their ethnic basis have become clearly Slavs. They retained the self-determination "Bulgarians", perhaps because in the 7th-8th centuries. the political life was dominated by the Bulgar aristocracy. The adoption of Christianity as the official religion in 864 and the introduction and spread of the Slavic alphabet (Cyrillic) contributed to the process of national consolidation.

Early Bulgarian society developed under the influence of two main cultures - Byzantine and Turkish. Both of them had a serious influence on the formation of the population of Bulgaria.

Language. Bulgarian belongs to the South Slavic group of the Indo-European family and is the oldest of the Slavic written languages. In 862 or 863, the brothers Cyril and Methodius from the Greek city of Thessaloniki created the Old Bulgarian alphabet (Glagolitic). The Russian version of the Old Bulgarian alphabet (Church Slavonic) contributed to the spread of literacy in Eastern Europe. The Cyrillic alphabet is now used, named after the Slavic enlightener Cyril.

The modern Bulgarian language was formed during the period of national revival (18-19 centuries), mainly on the basis of the folk dialect spoken by the population of the Stara Planin and Sredna Gora mountains. In 1945, the alphabet was simplified by eliminating some letters that were not of phonetic value.

Cities. Prior to industrialization, the urban population grew very slowly (18.8% in 1887 and only 21.4% in 1934). In the 1950s, 1/3 of the country's population lived in cities, and by 1989 the number of urban residents had doubled. As of December 1995, there were 9 cities in Bulgaria with a population of more than 100 thousand people (in 1989 there were 10): Sofia - 1114 thousand (the population of the capital decreased by about 200 thousand compared to 1989), Plovdiv - 341.4 thousand, Varna - 308.6 thousand, Burgas - 196 thousand, Ruse - 170 thousand, Stara Zagora - 150.5 thousand, Pleven - 130.8 thousand, Dobrich - 104.5 thousand, Sliven - 106.2 thousand. The population of each of the listed cities decreased by 10-20 thousand people compared to 1989. In 1995, 93.3 thousand people lived in Shumen (in 1989 - 110.8 thousand).

The main ports of the country are Burgas on the Black Sea and Ruse on the Danube. The main world famous resort area is located on the Black Sea coast around Varna. Stara Zagora is the main railway junction in Bulgaria.

Ethnic and religious groups. Bulgaria, a rather homogeneous country in terms of ethnic and religious composition, became even more homogeneous as a result of emigration processes after the Second World War. The vast majority of the population is Bulgarian (85.67%), including a small percentage of "Macedonians" who are officially considered ethnic Bulgarians. The largest national minority, the Turks, according to the 1992 census, numbered 800,000, or 9.43% of the total population. These are mainly peasants who settled during the reign of the Ottoman Turks. At present, they gravitate towards the northeastern and southern regions of Bulgaria. Small groups of gypsies are also represented (3.69%, according to various sources, their number ranges from 300 thousand to 800 thousand people), Armenians (0.16%), Romanians, Jews, Greeks and others (about 1% in total). . In 1998, a program for the integration of ethnic minorities was adopted, supported by the EU countries, as well as Turkey.

Migrations. The size of the internal migration of the population in Bulgaria after the Second World War was greater than in other countries of Eastern Europe presumably due to the rapid pace of urbanization. From 1965 to 1975, the number of migrants per 1,000 inhabitants increased from 14 to 24; in subsequent years, it began to decline.

After the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule in 1878, many ethnic Bulgarians moved to the new independent state from neighboring regions, especially from Thrace, Macedonia and Dobruja, and during the period from 1880 to 1945 their total number was approximately 698 thousand people. Large migration flows went both to Bulgaria and beyond its borders after the First World War. About 250 thousand Bulgarians moved from the Thracian part of Greece to Bulgaria, and 40 thousand Greeks moved from Bulgaria to Greece. 200 thousand Turks emigrated to Turkey. Almost 30 thousand more Turks moved from Bulgaria to Turkey in 1939-1945 and approx. 160 thousand in 1949-1951 were forcibly deported to their ethnic homeland under the communist regime. Romanian territory Southern Dobruja with a population of approx. 300 thousand people in September 1940 went to Bulgaria. 45 thousand Jews in 1948-1954 moved from Bulgaria to Israel. In 1947-1951 approx. 1800 refugees ended up in Yugoslavia, in 1946-1947 approx. 5 thousand Armenians were repatriated to Soviet Armenia. In the early 1970s, more than 35 thousand Turks emigrated to Turkey in accordance with bilateral agreement 1968. In the summer of 1989, another 360,000 Bulgarian Turks left the country. This was a response to the violent assimilation policy pursued by the communist regime, which tried in 1984-1985 to completely destroy the ethnic identity of the Turks, forcing them to adopt Slavic surnames and suppressing any desire to preserve national and religious independence; by the end of the 1990s, about half of them had returned to Bulgaria.

In general, according to experts, at least 580,000 ethnic Bulgarians live outside the country, more than half of them in southwestern Ukraine and southern Moldova, where they settled in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Small Bulgarian communities exist in Romania and Hungary. The number of Bulgarian immigrants in the United States is small: approximately 700 Bulgarian settlements, mainly in industrial urban areas in the northeast of the country and around the Great Lakes.

STATE AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATION

Bulgaria fell under communist control at the end of World War II, when, being an ally of Nazi Germany, it was occupied by Soviet troops. On September 9, 1944, the coalition government of the Fatherland Front was formed. On September 15, 1946, the People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB) was proclaimed, the government of which was headed by the well-known communist leader Georgy Dimitrov. In 1948, the Communists achieved complete control over the Fatherland Front, destroying all opposition forces in order to implement "the dictatorship of the proletariat in the form of people's democracy." The dictatorship of the party apparatus turned the state and all its political bodies into "transmission belts" for the implementation of the decisions of the communist leadership, which was headed by Todor Zhivkov from 1954 to 1989. The party apparatus merged with the state apparatus into the "nomenklatura" - the organization of the new ruling class according to the Soviet model, which controlled all spheres public life in the country.

Communists, not limiting themselves in political practice by any laws, retained constitutional forms of government. On December 4, 1947, the Great People's Assembly (plenipotentiary constituent assembly) adopted a constitution called Dimitrovskaya. It replaced the Tarnovo Constitution of 1879. The third constitution was adopted by referendum on May 16, 1971. It consolidated the position on the leading role of the Communist Party in society and the state. It declared the basic constitutional principles: the sovereignty of the people, the leading role of the working class, democratic centralism, socialist legality, the priority of public interests, equality of rights and socialist internationalism. The right to vote was granted to all citizens over the age of 18; elections were to be held by secret ballot. However, since the nomenklatura controlled the political processes in the country, including the nomination of candidates for all posts, the democratic principles of the constitution operated largely only on paper.

By the end of the 1980s, the regime faced strong political opposition, which, after the resignation of Zhivkov on November 10, 1989 from the post of general secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party and the head of state, acquired organized and legitimate forms. Mass demonstrations led by the democratic opposition forced the parliament to repeal the article of the constitution on the leading role of the communist party. Under pressure from the opposition, the ruling party was forced to seriously reform and agree to political pluralism. Communist and opposition representatives agreed on three major bills (on further constitutional amendments, on political parties, and on new parliamentary elections), which were approved by parliament in April 1990. The most important achievement of these democratic negotiations was the recognition of the need for a new constitution. The fourth constitution of Bulgaria was adopted on July 12, 1991 by the Great People's Assembly of the 7th convocation, elected in June 1990 in the first free elections after 1944.

Government departments. According to the 1991 constitution, Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic headed by the president as the guarantor of the constitution, elected for a five-year term in direct elections. The president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and also head of the National Security Advisory Council.

The presidential power in Bulgaria is limited. In emergency conditions, the president can use his power to call early parliamentary elections (which happened in the spring of 1997); he also has the right of a one-time veto on parliamentary decisions. Formed on the basis of a parliamentary majority, the government determines the economic strategy and political course of the country. The constitution consistently holds the principle of separation of powers, as well as powers between the center and the regions. The Constitution also establishes the principle of political pluralism in the country.

To adopt the constitution, the Great National Assembly of 400 deputies elected by popular vote was convened. The People's Assembly, which exercises legislative power and parliamentary control, consists of 240 deputies, elected for a four-year term, in accordance with the system of proportional representation. It includes parties that received at least 4% of the vote in the elections. The Parliament elects and dismisses the Prime Minister and, at his suggestion, members of the Council of Ministers, makes changes to the composition of the government at the suggestion of the Prime Minister. The Chairman of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the Chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court and the Chief Prosecutor are appointed (for a period of seven years without the right to re-election) and dismissed by the President of the Republic on the proposal of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Local government. The new constitution states that Bulgaria is a single state with local self-government. It does not allow autonomous territorial entities. The system of administrative-territorial division of Bulgaria consists of two levels: the highest (9 regions, including the city of Sofia) and the lowest (in 1995 - 255 communities). The community is the main administrative-territorial unit in which local self-government is exercised. Organ local government in the community - community council. The executive authority in the community is the kmet (mayor). Region - an administrative-territorial unit in which regional policy is carried out, public administration on the ground and ensure that state and local interests are aligned. The administration of the region is carried out by the regional head with the assistance of the regional administration. The regional head, appointed by the Council of Ministers, ensures the implementation of state policy, is responsible for the observance of law and public order, and administrative control is also within his competence.

Political parties. Until November 1989, the only political party in the country was the Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP), which was transformed from the Social Democratic Party established in 1891. It was the only party of its type in Europe that was in uncompromising opposition to the government of its country during the First World War. Subsequently, she is one of the founding members of the 3rd International. In 1946, the BKP became the ruling party when it won the majority of votes in the Great People's Assembly (VNS). For 43 years of domination, she allowed the existence of the Bulgarian Agricultural People's Union (BZNS) - an obedient relic of the once mass peasant party. At the end of 1989 it had 130,000 members. All other political parties were outlawed or dissolved. The BCP also retained the broad mass organization of the Fatherland Front.

The number of members of the BKP in 1945 increased 10 times compared to 1944 and reached 250,000 people. In January 1990 it consisted of 31,150 primary organizations and had 983,900 members. The BKP also had a youth reserve - the Dimitrov Communist Youth Union (until 1958 - the Dimitrov Union of People's Youth); almost all young people over the age of 14 were automatically covered by it. Children aged 9-14 were members of the communist pioneer organization.

By the end of the 1980s, the nomenklatura experienced a deep crisis of legitimacy due to economic recession, political and cultural decline, and ethnic minority issues. In order to prevent revolutionary speeches and stay in power, a group of "reformers" from the ruling elite of the party on November 10, 1989 removed Zhivkov from the post of general secretary of the Central Committee of the BKP and chairman of the State Council. At the 14th congress (January 30 - February 1, 1990), the BCP adopted a new charter providing for the rejection of democratic centralism, as well as the "Manifesto for Democratic Socialism". Its main provisions are: de-Stalinization, the rejection of the monopoly on power, a variety of forms of ownership, a predominantly market economy and a radical democratization of society. Under the new charter, the BKP Central Committee was replaced by the Supreme Party Council, which was headed by a chairman and a secretariat. On April 3, 1990, the BKP was renamed into the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

The opposition forces were led by the Union of Democratic Forces (SDF), founded in December 1989, which united approx. 20 parties, movements and clubs, opposition BKP. The most popular within the SDS was the spontaneous political club Ecoglasnost, whose activists formed the strongest radical opposition in the last year of the Zhivkov regime. The SDS did not have a definite political platform, its members united mainly on the basis of their rejection of the dictatorial rule of the BKP.

The BZNS sought to demonstrate a complete disengagement from the BKP. The official trade unions, the Fatherland Front and the Dimitrovsky Komsomol also declared themselves independent and changed their names. In addition to SDS, approx. 150 parties, coalitions and movements.

Armed forces. According to estimates for 1989, the country's armed forces numbered approx. 117.5 thousand people (91 thousand mobilized): 81.9 thousand people in the land army, which consisted of 8 motorized and 5 tank brigades; 8.8 thousand people in the fleet; 26.8 thousand people - in the air force. By 1995, the number of military personnel was reduced to 101.9 thousand. The land army numbered 51.6 thousand people, the air force - 21.6 thousand, and the naval - 3 thousand people.

In 1955-1990, the armed forces of Bulgaria were part of the forces of the Warsaw Pact - a military alliance led by the USSR. Bulgaria used predominantly Soviet weapons, including tactical nuclear missiles. Many commanding officers were trained in Soviet military academies and institutes. Military service in Bulgaria is universal and compulsory; her term is two years, and in the Navy - three. The military districts are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense. In addition to the regular army, there are border troops, security services and police.

In January 1990, the political control of the armed forces and the Ministry of the Interior by the BKP was declared illegal and then abolished. Party organizations in each unit and the main political department under the Ministry of Defense were abolished.

Foreign policy. Bulgaria has always had close ties with Russia. After World War II and under the communist regime, "Bulgarian-Soviet friendship" became an integral part of the official ideology and policy. The country was a member of the Warsaw Pact and was a member of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA).

Bulgaria maintains diplomatic relations with more than 130 states, however, they were temporarily interrupted with a number of countries - with Israel in 1967, Chile in 1973 and Egypt in 1978 (they were restored in the late 1990s). Bulgaria is a member of the UN (since 1955) and takes part in the work of approx. 300 international organizations and institutions. Since August 1990, relations with NATO have been established and are developing within the framework of the Partnership for Peace program. May 5, 1992 Bulgaria was admitted to the Council of Europe. In March 1993 signed an agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). On February 1, 1995 became an associate member of the European Union (EU).

Relations with neighboring Turkey, Bulgaria's historical adversary and NATO member, were constantly tense, but especially escalated after 1984 after an attempted forced assimilation of the Turkish minority. After the fall of the Zhivkov regime, there was an improvement in relations between these states.

Bulgarian-Yugoslav relations in 1948-1953 were clearly hostile, since Bulgaria made claims to the territory of Macedonia. After the reconciliation of the USSR with Yugoslavia in 1955, they improved. It should be noted that in 1992 Bulgaria became the first country to recognize the independent Republic of Macedonia, because of which it was subjected to economic sanctions by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In 1999, the Macedonian language, which was previously considered a dialect of Bulgarian, received official recognition.

In the 1990s, almost all political associations in Bulgaria in their platforms emphasized the need for a closer orientation of the economy and culture towards the countries of the West. However, until the removal of the BSP government from power in 1997 international connections with Western countries developed slowly. In the spring of 1999, the president and the parliamentary majority came out in support of NATO's actions in Serbia.

ECONOMY

In the 19th century Bulgaria was predominantly an agrarian country and was characterized by a traditional economic structure for the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire. In addition, the textile and leather and footwear industries, as well as fur dressing, were quite well developed. In the last decades before the Second World War, the country's economy saw an increase in entrepreneurial activity, often with the participation of Western capital, but agriculture still provided the bulk of the national income (65% in 1939). By that time, Bulgaria had become predominantly a country of small landowners who had plots of less than 10 hectares.

Under the communists who came to power in 1944, such administrative measures as land reform, the nationalization of industry and banks, and the accelerated and general centralization of agricultural production contributed to the socialization of the economy. Most of the land became the property of collective farms, and by 1952 the land rent received by landowners was almost completely abolished, private industrial enterprises that used hired labor were liquidated, and the functioning of the market was replaced by bureaucratic "improvisation".

In the 1950s and 1960s, the communist regime put the country's economy on the path of accelerated industrialization. In the mid-1970s, an attempt was made to concentrate agricultural production in large agro-industrial complexes employing at least 6,000 people.

In the 1980s, high rates of economic growth led to a disruption in the balance of payments. The economic reform undertaken in the late 1980s was aimed at creating a new model of economic management, stimulating the market, giving enterprises much more rights and encouraging competition. In 1989, capital investments reached 102.7 billion dollars (89.7 billion leva at the official exchange rate of 0.873 leva per 1 US dollar), but by that time the main equipment was largely worn out (about 40% was used by more than 10 years). Despite the fact that 42% of all investments in 1989 were directed to the modernization of industry, the introduction of new technologies was slow. Enterprises whose activities were controlled by the state were reorganized into firms. At the end of 1989, 65% of all non-agricultural production was produced by 1,300 state-owned firms. But management miscalculations and the lack of clear regulations hampered the activities of these firms. Inflation, which, according to Western experts, was 3% in 1987, manifested itself not so much in rising prices as in a shortage of goods, as well as in the collapse of the market. In 1989-1990, after years of systematic shortages of consumer goods, the country faced a deep crisis in its food supply. In general, in the late 1980s, the Bulgarian economy operated with a low level of economic efficiency, which fell further in the first half of the 1990s.

In 1948-1980, the average annual growth rate of national income was 7.5%. The economic growth, very significant in the 1960-1970s with an average annual growth rate of national income of 8.75% in 1966-1970, 7.8% in 1971-1975, 6.1% in 1976-1980, in 1981-1985 decreased to 3 .7%, and in 1986-1989 - up to 3.1% (an increase in 1988 was 2.4%, and in 1989 for the first time a decrease in national income by 0.4% was recorded).

Industry has long been the main source of national income. In 1987, 60% of the gross national product (GNP) came from industry, 12% from agriculture, 10% from construction, 8% from trade, and 7% from transport.

In the early 1990s, Bulgaria (following Russia) switched to the global system of calculating national income, which includes, along with the cost of goods and services of material production, the cost of the entire non-material sphere.

Despite a sharp drop in the level of industrial and agricultural production, gross domestic product(GDP) per capita in the early 1990s increased in monetary terms: 15,677 leva in 1991, 23,516 in 1992, 32,284 in 1993, 64,903 in 1994. At the same time, the inflation factor, as well as the restructuring of GDP, must be taken into account: if in 1990 it consisted of 9% agricultural products and 56.8% industrial products, then in 1996 the corresponding figures were 12.6% and 35.7%, and the share of the service sector in GDP increased markedly.

In general, there was a sharp drop in the level of industrial production: by 10.8% in 1990 compared with 1989, and then until 1993 - at a slightly lower rate. In 1994, the level of production increased by 4.5% compared to the previous year, while GDP grew by 1.8%, and in 1995 by another 2.6%, but in 1996 it again fell sharply by 8.5% and decreased industrial and agricultural production. By 1995, almost 65% of Bulgarians lived below the poverty line, while more than 70% of earnings had to be spent on food.

The situation was aggravated due to the incorrect economic policy of the government of Zh. Videnov, who practically curtailed privatization by 1996, but did not eliminate corruption. This slowed down the pace of economic reforms and slowed down the activities of foreign investors (foreign investments in the Bulgarian economy for the period from 1992 to 1996 amounted to only 800 million dollars). The activity of financial pyramids intensified, it was not possible to repay loans, and the embargo on trade with Yugoslavia brought tangible losses. In 1995, 6.5 million tons of grain were harvested, and in 1996 - only 3 million tons. Grain stocks were sharply reduced. Prices for basic commodities and fuel have risen. The number of bankruptcies has increased. The exchange rate of the lev fell sharply (from 70.7 per $1 at the beginning of 1996 to 3000 in the spring of 1997), while foreign exchange reserves during this time decreased from 1236 to 506 million dollars. If in 1990 the average salary was 200 dollars per month, then by 1997 - only 25-30 dollars; 80% of the population is below the poverty line.

Mass demonstrations and a change of government as a result of early parliamentary elections in April 1997 led to a tightening of financial policy in the spirit of monetarism, which manifested itself in the creation of the Currency Board - an international body financial control, which took over many of the functions of the Bulgarian People's Bank. At the same time, there was no rise in industry and agricultural production in 1997-1998.

According to the EU pilot group, at the end of 2002, inflation for the year was 5.9%, the average salary was $82 per month, and foreign investment was $1.2 billion. GDP per capita was estimated at $6,500 (in Romania - 1250 dollars), and in general, GDP was estimated at 49.23 billion US dollars. The country's foreign exchange reserve increased in 1997 to $2.4 billion ($506 million in 1996). In the same time external debt Bulgaria by the end of 1997 was 9.9 billion dollars, i.e. 113.5% of GDP (in 1996 - 103%). In 1998, revenues to the treasury from privatization reached 665 million dollars.

Economical geography. The territory of Bulgaria is divided into three main economic regions: Western, Southeastern and Northeastern. The core of the Western region is the Sofia-Pernik industrial complex, which produces approx. 30% of electricity and all ferrous metals in the country, and is also specialized in mechanical engineering. The key role in the accelerated industrialization of the region in the 1950s-1960s was played by the Pernik coal basin and the Kremikovskoye iron ore deposit. In the South-Eastern region, with the main industrial centers of Plovdiv, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Haskovo, non-ferrous metallurgy, the chemical industry, the production of building materials and other industries are developed. The main agricultural products of the area are wheat, corn, tobacco, cotton, rice, grapes, fruits and vegetables. In the North-Eastern region, with the industrial centers of Varna, Ruse and Razgrad, mechanical engineering, chemical, porcelain, textile, fur and leather industries are developing. It is also the main grain harvesting area, also producing sugar beets, corn and vegetables.

Labor resources. The economically active population is approx. 46% of the country's inhabitants. Only a small number of artisans and small traders work outside the state and cooperative sectors. Since the 1950s, the share of industrial workers in the total number of employed has steadily increased due to the decrease in the share of workers in agriculture.

Officially, there was no unemployment in communist Bulgaria, but hidden unemployment was significant and manifested itself in the bloated staff of enterprises. A specific problem was the constant shortage of people employed in physical labor, while many specialists with higher education could not find a suitable job. Unemployment began to rise after 1990 due to the country's transition to a market economy. In 1992, the number of unemployed was estimated at 15.3%, in 1994 - 20.5%, in 1995 - 11.1%, and in 1997 - 13.7% of the active population. By the end of the 1990s, the number of unemployed fell, but still makes up more than 10% of the working population.

As of October 1994, the number of employed in Bulgaria was 2868 thousand people, and the unemployed - 740 thousand. forestry - 18.5%, in other sectors of material production - 16.8%, and in the non-production sector - 19.9%, then in 1994 the corresponding figures were 29.1; 5.9; 23.2; 19.6 and 22.2%.

Energy. Bulgaria's energy resources are very limited. In 1987 it imported 60% of its energy. Coal reserves consist predominantly of low-calorie lignites with high ash and sulfur content. The main lignite mines are located in the Haskovo region; brown coal is mined in the Bobov-Dolsky basin and near Burgas. There are small reserves of coal in the Balkan coal basin; a small amount of anthracite is mined near Svoge. Coal production increased from 26.6 million tons in 1976 to 34.3 million tons in 1989, and in 1995 amounted to 31 million tons, but its share in the country's energy balance gradually decreased due to the use of nuclear fuel and the import of oil and gas and coal. The oil fields in Bulgaria are of no commercial importance. Crude oil is imported from OPEC and CIS countries; it is processed at a petrochemical plant near Burgas, which produces approx. 100 kinds of chemical products. Bulgaria also imports 2.8 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year from the CIS countries. In the early 1990s, due to payments for gas imports, Bulgaria's relations with Russia became more complicated.

Theoretically hydro energetic resources Bulgaria are estimated at about 25 billion kWh, about 10 billion kWh can be practically used, but less than 1/3 of them were used in the 1980s.

The total capacity of all stations in 1995 amounted to 10.25 million kW, with 57% of the energy produced at thermal power plants, 25% at nuclear power plants and 18% at hydroelectric power plants. In May 1996, one of the reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant was shut down for technical reasons. In the 1990s, nuclear energy was recognized as the main direction of future development. International financial institutions provide assistance to Bulgaria in the reconstruction of nuclear power plants in order to increase its reliability. In 1997, difficulties arose with the import of oil and gas from the CIS countries, but they were overcome, and imports of crude oil increased.

Transport. In 1993, the length of railways was 6600 km. At the end of 1995 there were 37,000 km of paved roads. The main Black Sea ports of Bulgaria are Burgas and Varna. In June 1995, an international seaport was opened in Tsarevo. The main river port on the Danube is Ruse. The tonnage of the merchant marine in 1992 was approx. 2 million gross register tons. A gas pipeline with a length of 445 km passes through the territory of Bulgaria. There are 10 airports in Bulgaria, of which three are international - in Sofia, Varna and Burgas. In fact, the entire transport network is state-owned.

Organization and planning of production. In 1945-1990 share public sector economy in Bulgaria was the largest compared to other Eastern European countries, and general organization and production planning was the monopoly of the state and the party nomenklatura. In the late 1940s, the State Planning Committee was established on the model of the State Planning Committee of the USSR. He had the rank of a ministry and worked closely with the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Already in the early 1960s, attempts were made to criticize rigid centralization. A limited reform stimulated the work of enterprises on the basis of the principle of self-sufficiency, but in July 1968, after the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP, production began to return to the former mainstream of central planning. After the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP in April 1970, state and collective farms were reorganized into large enterprises, which became known as agro-industrial complexes (AIC), which consisted of several formerly independent farms and small industrial enterprises. In 1975 there were 175 agricultural complexes with an average area of 24,500 hectares each and 6,000 employees. At the same time, the state began to create state trusts in industry, uniting all enterprises in a particular industry. In the mid-1970s, there were approx. 100 such giant production associations.

In the 1980s, Bulgaria returned to the course of decentralization by introducing a "new economic mechanism" - planning became a matter of coordination rather than leadership. In 1989-1990 the organization and planning of the economy in Bulgaria combined two strategies. The first allowed the expansion of the initiative of state firms and their entrepreneurial activities, and the second sought to preserve the role of ministries as intermediaries between the state and firms.

Agriculture. Bulgaria successfully combines favorable climatic conditions, natural soil fertility and centuries-old farming traditions, which creates the prerequisites for the prosperity of agriculture. By the end of the 1980s, the main types of agricultural work (plowing, sowing, harvesting and harrowing) were completely mechanized. In 1989, the total area of cultivated land was 4.65 million hectares; 5.4 million tons of wheat and 1.6 million tons of barley were harvested; the harvest of corn, beans, sunflower, sugar beet, tobacco and cotton was below the annual average of 1981-1985. In 1986-1989, the collection of fruits, vegetables and potatoes was significantly reduced. Bulgaria's traditional export is rose oil, widely used in the perfume industry. In terms of its production and export, the country ranks first in the world.

In the 1970s and 1980s, animal husbandry fell into decline as a result of poor management and the inability to solve the problem of its supply with feed. As a result of the crisis in agriculture, the domestic market turned out to be insufficiently supplied with milk, meat, eggs, and wool.

In 1995 the number of large cattle was 638 thousand (1/3 less than in 1993), pigs - 1986 thousand (in 1993 - 2680 thousand). Meat production decreased from 132 thousand tons in 1992 to 97 thousand tons in 1994 and began to recover at a slow pace only from 1996. At the same time, wheat production increased (1992 - 3433 thousand tons, 1994 - 3788 thousand tons), and also corn and other grains (with the exception of the lean year 1996). The processing of vegetables and fruits has sharply decreased, the tobacco industry was in a deep crisis.

Fishing. Bulgaria has large state and cooperative fishing enterprises engaged in coastal and deep sea fishing. In the 1960s, fish farming began to develop in specialized cooperatives. More than 70% of all fish comes from fishing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Forestry. Due to the improper exploitation of forested lands during the period of the planned economy, many forest areas were cut down, and shrub and grassy vegetation spread in their place; the reproductive potential of forests and their environmental functions have been severely disrupted.

Mining industry. Outdated technical equipment in the mining industries and slower than expected pace of their modernization and re-equipment affected the efficiency of extraction of key raw materials.

The development of non-ferrous metallurgy is due to the key role in the export of its products to the countries of Eastern Europe. The main enterprises are located in Kardzhali, Srednogorie, Eliseina and Plovdiv. Bulgaria has deposits of approx. 30 kinds of non-metal raw materials, including marble, kaolin, dolomite, gypsum, quartz, refractory clay and fluorite. In 1994, Bulgaria produced 29 thousand tons of anthracite, 268 thousand tons of iron ore, 36 thousand tons of crude oil and 7.6 million cubic meters. m of natural gas.

Manufacturing industry. main goals industrial policy in the 1990s were the acceleration of structural adjustment and technological progress. Electronics, biotechnology and the production of some chemical products were identified as priority areas in the hope of then establishing a wide export. High growth rates - approx. 15% per year - were achieved in electrical engineering and electronics, while the volume of production in mechanical engineering remained the same.

The chemical industry developed at an accelerated pace, but mismanagement and outdated technologies led to the threat of an ecological imbalance. The most important sector of this industry is oil refining, which is concentrated in a huge plant near Burgas. Bulgaria produces mineral fertilizers, synthetic fibers, car tires, plastics, paints and varnishes.

The unsatisfactory state of agriculture in the 1990s hindered the development of the food and light industries.

The dynamics of industrial production for the period from 1980 to 1994 looks like in the following way: 1980 - 100%, 1990 - 116%, 1991 - 98%, 1992 - 94%, 1993 - 101%, 1994 - 109%. However, in the second half of the 1990s, the pace of industrial development accelerated markedly. In the corresponding years of the same period, there was a significant decline in agricultural production: 92, 85, 79, 63, 59%, and the rate of recovery of its potential in the second half of the 1990s was significantly lower than in industry.

Foreign trade and balance of payments. The volume of foreign trade increased from $10 billion in 1975 to $29.9 billion (26.1 billion leva) in 1989. In 2002, exports were $5.3 billion and imports were $6.9 billion. The CMEA countries accounted for 79.5% of foreign trade turnover, while the developed capitalist countries accounted for 11.9% (the value of exports was $1.13 billion and imports were $2.45 billion). Exports were dominated by leather, electric motors, electric cars, ships, synthetic fibres, rose oil and medicinal herbs; in imports - machine tools, equipment for hydroelectric power plants and nuclear power plants, cars, coal, oil and electricity.

In 1996-1997, Bulgaria's foreign trade turnover was characterized by a negative balance in trade with Russia and a decrease in oil supplies (by 40%) and gas (by 18%) due to an increase in their cost. In exports, this period includes an increase in the share of tobacco products. In recent years, trade links with EU countries have improved, but the growth of public debt, as well as low rates economic development postpone the prospect of Bulgaria joining this organization (according to the results of the December 1997 meeting, it was not among the countries with which the EU began accession negotiations).

Finance and banking.Currency unit Bulgaria - lion. official rate dollar in 1989 was 0.873 leva, and after the devaluation in 1990 rose to 9 leva. In July 1997 the exchange rate was 1000 leva for 1 German mark. The Bulgarian Central Bank is the main banking institution and issuing bank. He owns 72% of the shares of the Foreign Trade Bank, founded in 1964 to make external payments. State savings bank provides banking services to the population. Commercial banks appeared in 1987.

According to the Banking and Credit Law of 1992 (as amended), the range of transactions of the Bulgarian People's and Commercial Banks, especially with securities, was expanded, and the positions of branches of foreign banks were strengthened. The procedure for bankruptcy, the procedure for deducting profits to the budget of the state (36%) and communities (6.5%) are legally defined. At the same time, inflation in 1996, which grew into hyperinflation in 1997, led to a crisis in the banking system due to massive withdrawals of money by depositors. At the end of 1996, changes were made to the Law on Economic Activities to encourage foreign investment, and the reorientation of Bulgaria's foreign economic relations, which intensified in early 1998, is designed to strengthen the country's banking system under the strict control of the IMF and EBRD.

The state budget. The Bulgarian government has never published annual budgets. The main budget revenue items are taxes on profits received by enterprises from manufactured products and from turnover (sales). The largest item in the expenditure side of the budget is the cost of developing sectors of the national economy. According to Western experts, in 1988 defense spending was $2.47 billion. In 1990, the communist reformist government recognized the existence of a budget deficit and the associated public debt. In 1989, the total debt of Bulgaria amounted to $1 billion, in 1990 it rose to $1.388 billion. By the beginning of 1994, the debt was already $12.25 billion, and its decline was only in the late 1990s.

Introduction

Bulgaria is a state located on the Balkan Peninsula, in the southeast of Europe, with access to the Black Sea. Most of the country is occupied by plains and small elevations (up to 600 meters above sea level), but from west to east the territory is crossed by two ridges: in the north - Stara Planina, belonging to the Balkan Mountains, in the south - the Rhodopes, where the highest point of the country is located - Mount Musala (2925 m). The largest rivers are the Danube, along which most of the border with Romania runs, and the Maritsa.
The name of the state comes from the Turkic root "bulg", meaning "mixed", which refers to the population of the country - it was formed from many tribes.
In ancient times (from the time of the Trojan War, and probably even earlier), the Thracian tribes lived on the territory of modern Bulgaria, representing a serious military force and from time to time spreading their influence over vast territories. In 681 AD the First Bulgarian Kingdom was formed, from 1018 to 1186 under the rule of Byzantium, after which (from 1187) the history of the Second Kingdom begins - until the end of the XIV century, when these territories were conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The rule of the Turks was interrupted as a result of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, in 1908 Bulgaria became an independent kingdom, and on September 15, 1946, the People's Republic was proclaimed.
In my work, I want to carry out a comprehensive economic and geographical description of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Chapter 1. Economy, political, geographical and historical features of the country's development.

1.1 Business card of the country.

The official name is the Republic of Bulgaria - a state in South-Eastern Europe, in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, occupies 22% of its area. In the east it is washed by the Black Sea. It borders with Greece and Turkey in the south, with Serbia and Macedonia - in the west and with Romania - in the north. The total length of the borders is 2245 km, of which 1181 km are by land, 686 km by rivers and 378 km by sea. The length of motor roads is 36,720 km, the railway network is 4,300 km.
The country was named after the ethnonym of the people - the Bulgarians. Member of the UN, EU since 2007 and NATO since 2004. Bulgaria is a parliamentary republic. The legislative body of Bulgaria is a unicameral parliament. The head of state of the Republic of Bulgaria is the President.
The coat of arms of Bulgaria is a scarlet shield topped with the historical crown of Bulgaria. In the shield is a rearing crowned golden lion. The shield is held by two golden crowned lions. Under the shield are oak branches and a ribbon with the motto "Union to rule silat" (Unity gives strength).
It is generally accepted that the three lions mean the three historical lands of Bulgaria: Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia.
The flag of Bulgaria - one of the state symbols of the country, is a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal stripes of equal size: white on top, green in the middle, red on the bottom. The first of them personifies freedom and peace, the second - forests and agriculture, the third - the blood shed in the struggle for state independence.

Economic and political-geographical position of the country.

In the 19th century, Bulgaria was predominantly an agrarian country and was characterized by a traditional economic structure for the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire. In addition, the textile and leather and footwear industries, as well as fur dressing, were quite well developed. In the last decades before World War II, the country's economy experienced an increase in entrepreneurial activity, often with the participation of Western capital, but agriculture still provided the bulk of the national income (65% in 1939). By that time, Bulgaria had become predominantly a country of small landowners who had plots of less than 10 hectares.
Under the communists who came to power in 1944, such administrative measures as land reform, the nationalization of industry and banks, the forced and general centralization of agricultural production, contributed to the socialization of the economy. Most of the land became the property of collective farms, and by 1952 the land rent received by landowners was almost completely abolished, private industrial enterprises that used hired labor were liquidated, and the functioning of the market was replaced by bureaucratic "improvisation".
In the 1950s and 1960s, the communist regime put the country's economy on the path of accelerated industrialization. In the mid-1970s, an attempt was made to concentrate agricultural production in large agro-industrial complexes employing at least 6,000 people. In the 1980s, high rates of economic growth led to a disruption in the balance of payments. The economic reform undertaken in the late 1980s was aimed at creating a new model of economic management, stimulating the market, giving enterprises much greater rights and encouraging competition. In 1989, capital investments reached 102.7 billion dollars (89.7 billion leva at the official exchange rate of 0.873 leva per 1 US dollar), but by that time the main equipment was largely worn out (about 40% were used by more than 10 years). Despite the fact that 42% of all investments in 1989 were directed to the modernization of industry, the introduction of new technologies was slow. Enterprises whose activities were controlled by the state were reorganized into firms. At the end of 1989, 65% of all non-agricultural products were produced by 1,300 state firms. But management miscalculations and the lack of clear regulations hampered the activities of these firms. Inflation, which, according to Western experts, was 3% in 1987, manifested itself not so much in rising prices as in a shortage of goods, as well as in the collapse of the market. In 1989-1990, after years of systematic shortages of consumer goods, the country faced a deep crisis in its food supply. In general, in the late 1980s, the Bulgarian economy operated with a low level of economic efficiency, which fell further in the first half of the 1990s.
Between 1948 and 1980, the average annual growth rate of national income was 7.5%. Economic growth, very strong in the 1960s-1970s with an average annual growth rate of national income of 8.75% in 1966-1970s, 7.8% in 1971-1975s, 6.1% in 1976-1980 years, in 1981–1985 decreased to 3.7%, and in 1986–1989 to 3.1% (an increase in 1988 was 2.4%, and in 1989 for the first time a 0.4% decrease in national income was recorded.
Industry has long been the main source of national income. In 1987, 60% of the gross national product (GNP) came from industry, 12% from agriculture, 10% from construction, 8% from trade, and 7% from transport.
In the early 1990s, Bulgaria (following Russia) switched to the global system of calculating national income, which includes, along with the cost of goods and services of material production, the cost of the entire non-material sphere.
Despite a sharp drop in the level of industrial and agricultural production, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increased in monetary terms in the early 1990s: BGN 15,677 in 1991, 23,516 in 1992, 32,284 in 1993, 903 in 1994. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the inflation factor, as well as the restructuring of GDP: if in 1990 it consisted of 9% of agricultural products and 56.8% of industrial products, then in 1996 the corresponding figures were 12.6 % and 35.7%, and the share of the service sector in GDP increased markedly.
In general, there was a sharp drop in the level of industrial production: by 10.8% in 1990 compared to 1989, and then until 1993 at a slightly lower rate. In 1994, the level of production increased by 4.5% compared to the previous year, while GDP grew by 1.8%, and in 1995 by another 2.6%, but in 1996 it again fell sharply by 8.5% and decreased the volume of industrial and agricultural production. By 1995, almost 65% of Bulgarians lived below the poverty line, with more than 70% of their earnings spent on food.
The situation was aggravated due to the incorrect economic policy of the government of Zh. Videnov, who practically curtailed privatization by 1996, but did not eliminate corruption. This slowed down the pace of economic reforms and slowed down the activities of foreign investors (foreign investments in the Bulgarian economy during the period from 1992 to 1996 amounted to only 800 million dollars). The activity of financial pyramids intensified, it was not possible to repay loans, and the embargo on trade with Yugoslavia brought tangible losses. In 1995, 6.5 million tons of grain were harvested, and in 1996 - only 3 million tons. Grain stocks were sharply reduced. Prices for basic commodities and fuel have risen. The number of bankruptcies has increased. The exchange rate of the lev fell sharply (from 70.7 per dollar at the beginning of 1996 to 3,000 in the spring of 1997), while foreign exchange reserves during this time decreased from 1,236 to 506 million US dollars. If in 1990 the average salary was $200 per month, by 1997 it was only $25-30; 80% of the population is below the poverty line.
Mass demonstrations and a change of government as a result of early parliamentary elections in April 1997 led to a tightening of monetary policy in the spirit of monetarism, which manifested itself in the creation of the Currency Board, an international financial control body that took over many of the functions of the Bulgarian People's Bank. At the same time, there was no rise in industry and agricultural production in 1997-1998.
According to the EU pilot group, at the end of 2002, inflation for the year was 5.9%, the average salary was $82 per month, and foreign investment was $1.2 billion. GDP per capita was estimated at $6,500 (in Romania - 1250 dollars), and the total GDP was estimated at 49.23 billion US dollars. The country's foreign exchange reserve increased in 1997 to $2.4 billion ($506 million in 1996). At the same time, Bulgaria's foreign debt by the end of 1997 amounted to 9.9 billion dollars, i.e. 113.5% of GDP (in 1996 - 103%). In 1998, revenues to the treasury from privatization reached 665 million dollars.
The country's currency is the Bulgarian lev. On July 5, 1999, the currency was denominated: the new lev replaced the 1000 old ones. Unstable inflation jeopardizes the country's accession to the eurozone. The Bulgarian government planned to replace the lev with the euro in 2010. However, experts predict that this may happen no earlier than 2014.
Advantages: reserves of coal and gas. Productive agriculture, especially wine and tobacco production. Close ties with the EU. Software production.
Weaknesses: infrastructure and equipment are outdated; high debt in all sectors. Privatization that dragged on until 1998 and structural reforms.
Land borders: total: 1,808 km
neighboring countries: Greece 494 km, Republic of Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia 318 km, Turkey 240 km.
International trade.
Since 1990, there have been significant changes in the country's foreign trade policy. Instead of countries former Council economic mutual assistance, the country's main trading partners have become the EU countries, although oil imports from Russia still leave Russia as Bulgaria's main trading partner. In December 1996 Bulgaria joined the WTO.
Bulgaria joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. This led to an increase in the country's foreign trade indicators and, according to experts, did not cause negative consequences in the country's economy.
The country is oriented towards integration with the member states of the European Union and is going to join the Eurozone between 2010 and 2012.

1.3 Historical developments in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria was founded in 681 by Khan Asparukh. The territory of the country was one of the first to be inhabited due to its favorable geographical location. On the territory of Bulgaria, traces of a civilization older than civilizations in Mesopotamia and Egypt were found. Archaeological excavations have shown well-developed crafts of local settlers. The treasure of the necropolis in Varna is considered the oldest golden treasure in the world. Many tribes that inhabited these lands in different eras have left significant traces to this day.
The Thracians are considered the most ancient population on the territory of Bulgaria. The ancient historian Herodotus wrote that the Thracians were the second largest population in the Ancient World. The main sources of information about the Thracian culture are ancient burial structures (tombs and necropolises). In Bulgaria, among the ancient masterpieces are: the Kazanlak tomb, the treasure of golden vessels from Panagyurishte, the treasure in the village of Valchetrin in the Pleven district and the Rogozen treasure. The Thracian gods are Dionysius, Ares, Artemis and others. The ancient mythical singer Orpheus is also considered a Thracian. Legends say that he still wanders through the forests of his land - the Rhodope Mountains, alone, with his harp, grieving for his wife Eurydice.
From 7 st. BC. The Bulgarian Black Sea coast was colonized by Greek merchants and sailors. The following became Greek colonies: Messembria (modern Nessebar), Apollonia (modern Sozopol), Odessos (modern Varna), and others. The Thracians began to form a class society, and in the 5th century. the first state arose - the Odrysian kingdom. To 1 tbsp. BC. these lands are subject to the Roman Empire. Then two provinces are created: Moesia and Thrace. After the collapse of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern, Thrace and Moesia become the possession of Byzantium. In 6 st. Slavs penetrate these lands and the ethnic composition of the population of the Balkan Peninsula changes. Part of the Thracian tribes was assimilated by the Slavs.
This hegemony was changed when, in 681, the Proto-Bulgarians, led by Khan Asparuh, invaded the territory from Southern Bessaraia, crossed the Danube, defeated the Byzantine army, attracted the Slavic tribes to their side and made peace with Byzantium. Khan Asparuh became the head of the emerging Slavic-Bulgarian state - Bulgaria.
Pliska became the capital. Gradually, the Proto-Bulgarians were assimilated by the Slavs. Bulgaria adopted Christianity in 865 under the ruler Khan Boris. The reign of his predecessor, Tsar Simeon, is called the "Golden Age" in history. The king's war led to a significant increase in the territory of Bulgaria. She overlooked three seas - the Black, Aegean and Adriatic. Bulgarian culture flourished. Slavic writing was officially adopted. This period includes the activities of writers - John the Exarch, Konstantin Preslavsky, Chernorizets the Brave and others. Many temples, monasteries and architectural monuments were built.
The capital was moved to the center of culture - the city of Preslav, the beauty of which could be compared with the beauty of Constantinople.
In 1018, despite the fierce defense, Bulgaria fell under the rule of Byzantium. In 1187, the brothers Peter and Asen from Veliko Tarnov won back the freedom of the country, returned the borders that were in the time of Tsar Simeon and established the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The city of Veliko Tarnovo became the capital. During the reign of Tsar Kaloyan, Bulgaria reached its greatest political and economic prosperity. Rapid progress lasted until the reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II. After the death of the ruler, several crises occur in the country.
100 years later, in 1393, the capital Veliko Tarnovo was captured by the Turks and Bulgaria has been under the rule of the Ottoman Empire for 500 years. From the very beginning, the Bulgarian people showed fierce resistance against foreign yoke, influence and assimilation. One of the most difficult consequences of Turkish rule was the mass conversion of Christians to Islam, especially the "blood tax" - the selection of the most healthy male children for the Janissary corps.
Resistance manifested itself mainly in the haiduk movement and uprisings. The uprising of Konstantin and Fruzhin broke out first in the Vidinsky and Pirot districts, 1404. But it was crowned with failure, because. The Ottoman Empire was at its height.
In the 16th century, however, the Ottoman Empire entered a period of decline. Then the Tyrnovo (1598, 1686), Chiprovo (1688), Karposhovo (1689) uprisings flared up one after another. The brutal suppression of the uprisings led to the resettlement of part of the population from Bulgaria to the Transdanubian lands.
Despite the Ottoman rule, Bulgaria had its own Renaissance period. It began with the writing of the "History of the Slavic-Bulgarian" by Paisiy Hilendarsky, in 1762. This manuscript called for the awakening of the national identity of the oppressed Bulgarian people. His follower was Sofroniy Vrachansky, a public educator, the author of the first printed book in the New Bulgarian literature - "Nedelnik", 1806.
The activities of the people's educators manifested themselves in cultural activities. Creation of national schools: the first secular school was created by V. Aprilov in the city of Gabrovo, 1835. The first periodicals are published: "Lyuboslovie", "Bulgarian Eagle" in the 40s. In the 40s-60s - the struggle for an independent national church, which led to the creation of the Bulgarian Exarchate in 1870.
Financial and cultural growth led to the birth of the national liberation movement. A central Bulgarian committee appeared (1866), the Bulgarian Society (1868). The beginning of the national ideology was laid by G.S. Rakovsky. In 1869, the Bulgarian Revolutionary Central Committee was created, headed by Vasil Levski and L. Karavelov. They were preparing an all-Bulgarian national liberation uprising. The peak of the uprisings was the April Uprising in 1876, in which the national hero of the country, the revolutionary Hristo Botev, took part. But the uprising was brutally suppressed, which caused indignation in many countries of Europe and Russia.
In 1877, Russian troops crossed the Danube River and, together with the Bulgarian militia, began the Russian-Turkish liberation war. Particularly significant battles were during the defense of the Shipka Pass, the battles for Plevna and Stara Zagora. The victory of the Russian army ensured the liberation of Bulgaria and on March 3, 1878, the San Stefano peace treaty was signed. Bulgaria was proclaimed an autonomous principality. But the agreement was revised and the new Berlin Treaty of 1878 divided Bulgaria into the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia (an autonomous province of the Ottoman Empire). On September 6, 1885 Bulgaria reunited its territory.
The first decades after the Liberation, capitalism developed in the country. After World War II, the country became part of the former socialist bloc. In 1989 political transformations made Bulgaria a Democratic country.

Chapter 2. Economic evaluation of natural resources.

2.1 Resources for industrial development.

The territory of Bulgaria is divided into three main economic regions: Western, Southeastern and Northeastern. The core of the Western region is the Sofia-Pernik industrial complex, which produces about 30% of electricity and all ferrous metals in the country, and also specializes in mechanical engineering. The key role in the accelerated industrialization of the region in the 1950s–1960s was played by the Pernik coal basin and the Kremikovskoye iron ore deposit. In the South-Eastern region, with the main industrial centers of Plovdiv, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Haskovo, non-ferrous metallurgy, the chemical industry, the production of building materials and other industries are developed. The main agricultural products of the area are wheat, corn, tobacco, cotton, rice, grapes, fruits and vegetables. In the North-Eastern region, with the industrial centers of Varna, Ruse and Razgrad, mechanical engineering, chemical, porcelain, textile, fur and leather industries are developing. It is also the main grain harvesting area, also producing sugar beets, corn and vegetables.
Labor resources.
The economically active population is approx. 46% of the country's inhabitants. Only a small number of artisans and small traders work outside the state and cooperative sectors. Since the 1950s, the share of industrial workers in the total number of employed has steadily increased due to the decrease in the share of workers in agriculture.
Officially, there was no unemployment in communist Bulgaria, but hidden unemployment was significant and manifested itself in the bloated staff of enterprises. A specific problem was the constant shortage of people employed in physical labor, while many specialists with higher education could not find a suitable job. Unemployment began to rise after 1990 due to the country's transition to a market economy. In 1992, the number of unemployed was estimated at 15.3%, in 1994 - 20.5%, in 1995 - 11.1%, and in 1997 - 13.7% of the active population. By the end of the 1990s, the number of unemployed fell, but still makes up more than 10% of the working population.
As of October 1994, the number of employed in Bulgaria was 2868 thousand people, and the unemployed - 740 thousand. and forestry - 18.5%, in other sectors of material production - 16.8%, and in the non-productive sphere - 19.9%, then in 1994 the corresponding figures were 29.1; 5.9; 23.2; 19.6 and 22.2%.

2.2 Energy and transport.

Bulgaria's energy resources are very limited. In 1987, it imported 60% of its energy consumption. Coal reserves consist predominantly of low-calorie lignites with high ash and sulfur content. The main lignite mines are located in the Haskovo region; brown coal is mined in the Bobov-Dolsky basin and near Burgas. There are small reserves of coal in the Balkan coal basin; a small amount of anthracite is mined near Svoge. Coal production increased from 26.6 million tons in 1976 to 34.3 million tons in 1989, and in 1995 amounted to 31 million tons, but its share in the country's energy balance gradually decreased due to the use of nuclear fuel and the import of oil and gas and coal. The oil fields in Bulgaria are of no commercial importance. Crude oil is imported from OPEC and CIS countries; it is processed at a petrochemical plant near Burgas, which produces approx. 100 kinds of chemical products. Bulgaria also imports 2.8 billion cubic meters. m of gas per year from the CIS countries. In the early 1990s, due to payments for gas imports, Bulgaria's relations with Russia became more complicated.
Theoretically, Bulgaria's hydropower resources are estimated at about 25 billion kWh, in practice, about 10 billion kWh can be used, but less than 1/3 of them were used in the 1980s.
The total capacity of all stations in 1995 was 10.25 million kW, with 57% of the energy produced by thermal power plants, 25% by nuclear power plants and 18% by hydroelectric power plants. In May 1996, one of the reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant was shut down for technical reasons. In the 1990s, nuclear energy was recognized as the main direction of future development. International financial organizations are assisting Bulgaria in the reconstruction of nuclear power plants in order to increase its reliability. In 1997, difficulties arose with the import of oil and gas from the CIS countries, but they were overcome, and imports of crude oil increased.
Transport.
In 1993, the length of railways was 6600 km. At the end of 1995 there were 37,000 km of paved roads. The main Black Sea ports of Bulgaria are Burgas and Varna. In June 1995, an international seaport was opened in Tsarevo. The main river port on the Danube is Ruse. The tonnage of the merchant marine in 1992 was approx. 2 million gross register tons. A gas pipeline with a length of 445 km passes through the territory of Bulgaria. There are 10 airports in Bulgaria, of which three are international - in Sofia, Varna and Burgas. In fact, the entire transport network is state-owned.

2.3 Organization and planning of production. Agriculture.

In the 1945-1990s, the share of the state sector of the economy in Bulgaria was the largest compared to other Eastern European countries, and the overall organization and planning of production was a monopoly of the state and the party nomenclature. In the late 1940s, the State Planning Committee was established on the model of the State Planning Committee of the USSR. He had the rank of a ministry and worked closely with the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
Already in the early 1960s, attempts were made to criticize rigid centralization. A limited reform stimulated the work of enterprises on the basis of the principle of self-sufficiency, but in July 1968, after the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP, production began to return to the former mainstream of central planning. After the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP in April 1970, state and collective farms were reorganized into large enterprises, which became known as agro-industrial complexes (AIC), which consisted of several formerly independent farms and small industrial enterprises. In 1975, there were 175 agro-industrial complexes with an average area of 24.5 thousand hectares each and 6 thousand people employed. At the same time, the state began to create state trusts in industry, uniting all enterprises in a particular industry. In the mid-1970s, there were approx. 100 such giant production associations.
In the 1980s, Bulgaria returned to the course of decentralization by introducing a "new economic mechanism" - planning became a matter of coordination rather than leadership. In the 1989-1990s, the organization and planning of the economy in Bulgaria combined two strategies. The first allowed the expansion of the initiative of state firms and their entrepreneurial activities, and the second sought to preserve the role of ministries as intermediaries between the state and firms.
Agriculture.
Bulgaria successfully combines favorable climatic conditions, natural soil fertility and centuries-old farming traditions, which creates the prerequisites for the prosperity of agriculture. By the end of the 1980s, the main types of agricultural work (plowing, sowing, harvesting and harrowing) were completely mechanized. In 1989, the total area of cultivated land was 4.65 million hectares; 5.4 million tons of wheat and 1.6 million tons of barley were harvested; the harvest of corn, beans, sunflowers, sugar beet, tobacco and cotton was below the annual average of 1981–1985. In 1986-1989, the collection of fruits, vegetables and potatoes was significantly reduced. The traditional export of Bulgaria is rose oil, which is widely used in the perfume industry. In terms of its production and export, the country ranks first in the world.
Livestock production declined in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of mismanagement and the inability to solve the problem of its provision.
Fishing.
Bulgaria has large state and cooperative fishing enterprises engaged in coastal and deep sea fishing. In the 1960s, fish farming began to develop in specialized cooperatives. More than 70% of all fish comes from fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. feed. As a result of the crisis in agriculture, the domestic market turned out to be insufficiently supplied with milk, meat, eggs, and wool.
In 1995, the number of cattle was 638 thousand (1/3 less than in 1993), pigs - 1986 thousand (in 1993 - 2680 thousand). Meat production declined from 132,000 tons in 1992 to 97,000 tons in 1994 and began to recover at a slow pace only from 1996. At the same time, the production of wheat increased (3,433,000 tons in 1992; 3,788,000 tons in 1994), as well as corn and other grains (with the exception of the lean year of 1996). The processing of vegetables and fruits has sharply decreased, the tobacco industry was in a deep crisis.
Forestry.
Due to the improper exploitation of forested lands during the period of the planned economy, many forest areas were cut down, and shrub and grassy vegetation spread in their place; the reproductive potential of forests and their environmental functions have been severely disrupted.

2.4 Industry. Foreign trade and finance.

Mining industry.
Outdated technical equipment in the mining industries and slower than expected pace of their modernization and re-equipment affected the efficiency of extraction of key raw materials.
The development of non-ferrous metallurgy is due to the key role in the export of its products to the countries of Eastern Europe. The main enterprises are located in Kardzhali, Srednogorie, Eliseina and Plovdiv. Bulgaria has deposits of approx. 30 kinds of non-metal raw materials, including marble, kaolin, dolomite, gypsum, quartz, refractory clay and fluorite. In 1994, Bulgaria produced 29 thousand tons of anthracite, 268 thousand tons of iron ore, 36 thousand tons of crude oil and 7.6 million cubic meters. m of natural gas.
Manufacturing industry.
The main goals of industrial policy in the 1990s were to accelerate structural adjustment and technological progress. Electronics, biotechnology and the production of some chemical products were identified as priority areas in the hope of then establishing a wide export. High growth rates - approx. 15% per year were achieved in electrical engineering and electronics, while the volume of production in mechanical engineering remained the same.
The chemical industry developed at an accelerated pace, but mismanagement and outdated technologies led to the threat of an ecological imbalance. The most important sector of this industry is oil refining, which is concentrated in a huge plant near Burgas. Bulgaria produces mineral fertilizers, synthetic fibers, car tires, plastics, paints and varnishes.
The unsatisfactory state of agriculture in the 1990s hindered the development of the food and light industries.
The dynamics of industrial production for the period from 1980 to 1994 is as follows: 1980 - 100%, 1990 - 116, 1991 - 98, 1992
etc.................

Natalya Glukhova

Economy of Bulgaria in different periods

04/04 2017

Good afternoon friends!
Let's talk about economics today. If you decide to move to live in Bulgaria (get a residence permit, for example), then evaluate your capabilities in advance.

Prices, employment, buying a home, loans are pressing matters. You need to understand how the Bulgarian economy is developing and what it is. I'll try to keep it simple and clear about what might be useful.

From this article you will learn:

Three major periods for the Bulgarian economy

There are 3 main periods in the economic life of the country.

Before 1990

After World War II, heavy industry developed. Already since the 1980s Bulgaria has attracted attention as a country with a good level of heavy industry. 1990, a very serious economic crisis begins.

1990-2000

This is a period of reform. Unfortunately not very successful. Until 1996, the level of industry is still very low. There was an outflow foreign investment. For example, from 1992 to 1996, foreign investments amounted to only 800 million dollars.
Rising prices, rising unemployment. Everything begins to return to normal only towards the end of 1998. GDP is growing, reaching a level of 5.5%, one of the highest rates in Europe (at that time). 2000, the new government decided to privatize 77% of the property.

After 2000

What's going on today? The economic situation is starting to improve. The energy field is developing rapidly.
Transport infrastructure is on the rise. This is especially true for maritime transport.

A good influx of capital comes from the tourist area. Here foreign firms are investing in construction residential complexes, hotels.

What is happening with the economy today?

Bulgaria successfully joined the European Union. It is also a member of NATO, the UN and the WTO.
It can be noted a low percentage of inflation.
The country's economy was hit hard by the ban on food exports for Russia.
Even at the current economic stage of development, the currency is rigidly pegged to the dollar.
The debt of banks to foreign investors is quite large.

Bulgaria after joining the EU

Here I do not want to quote economic publications. Joining the EU has brought its pluses and minuses. I think it's better to tell what the Bulgarians themselves think about this.

As one of the most valuable advantages, Bulgarians note the possibility of traveling and working abroad. Unfortunately, the own situation with the employment of the population is disappointing. The Bulgarians use their right to work in the EU countries to the fullest.

Key industries have been given the opportunity to develop. So far, this development has not yielded tangible results. Updating of equipment and technologies is just beginning.

Although, the EU brothers are not very willing to share their know-how with the Bulgarian industry. One of the most positive areas is infrastructure.

On the other hand, the social sphere is changing significantly. There are good opportunities for young people: a European level of education, the opportunity to continue their education in Europe.

Do Bulgarians themselves approve of joining the EU? As it turned out, yes. After a long crisis, making wrong economic decisions, I really want to set a course for a worthy future.

The next few years are very important, they will really show whether Bulgaria helps Europe or not. Development continues.

Today, these industries are at their best

Industry is occupied by the Western region of the country. Here is the famous Sofia-Pernik basin - the citadel of heavy industry. It produces 30% of the country's electricity.

The chemical industry is developed in the Southeast, there are metallurgical enterprises. It is also a popular area for new development. Here is the center of agriculture.
In the North-East there is a textile industry zone, fur and leather dressing is located right there.

As for resources. There are less and less coal, oil and gas, and 1997 was difficult in the life of the country - interruptions began with the import of these resources.

Cost of living in Bulgaria

Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv are the most "popular" cities for moving. I think you are considering one of them to start a new life in Bulgaria.

Varna is one of the most inexpensive, but pleasant cities. There is a sea, many picturesque villages and resort areas. Mostly pensioners move here. But, young people are not far behind, because the tourism sector is well developed in Varna, and these are jobs.

Plovdiv is a city of students. There are well-known legal, medical and technical universities.

Sofia is the business center of the country. Life is in full swing, new quarters are being built, new companies, representative offices and firms are opened every year.

Burgas. Near it are several large enterprises. The main port is also located here.

You can learn more about large cities from the book "Bulgaria". This is one of the parts of the series "Around the World". Order on Ozone, the book has great photos and up-to-date information.

Product prices

Today, as in 2016, prices are lower than in Russia. You can save on luxury goods, but not on food. I will give you approximate prices for some simple food items:

Potatoes (1 kg) Varna - 37 rubles 50 kopecks, Sofia - 38.80, Plovdiv - 39.60.
Milk (1 liter) from 56.29 to 60 rubles.
Chicken eggs (10 pieces) Sofia 75 rubles, Varna, Plovdiv - about 105 rubles.
Bread, loaf approximately 31-39 rubles.
Chicken (1 kg) 350 - 355 r.

As you can see, higher than ours, but not by much.

Renting or buying real estate

Sofia, Plovdiv: 3 rooms, but not the center 13,000 - 30,000 rubles for 1 month.
Varna: A kopeck piece in the center will cost 20,000 rubles per month.

Apartment purchase:

Sofia: 45,000 - 75,000 rubles per 1 square
Varna: 50,000 - 125 thousand.
Plovdiv: 30 - 65,000 r per square.

average salary

With work and salary, everything is not so positive. The average salary is low, even after the country joined the European Union. The difference from the average price in Europe is 10 times! Because of this, people just try to move to another country, get a work visa.

The average salary for 2016 was only 12,850 rubles or 340 leva.

But, there are all the opportunities for successful management. This is especially true if you want to get a residence permit in Bulgaria. Opening a company is not difficult. And doing business in Bulgaria is quite profitable for a foreign citizen.

You will have to provide 10 jobs for . There is an obvious benefit here: locals get new jobs, and the state treats foreign firms with respect. So, there should not be any special problems with opening and registration.

Education

After joining the EU, all state universities and schools switched to the European standard of education.

Schools teach in Bulgarian. But, it is quite simple, especially for Russian speakers. Especially for children, because it is much easier for them to learn the language. The school has been attending for 12 years.

Higher education is based on the bachelor's + master's degree system. Unfortunately, many citizens do not have the opportunity to receive it. Instead, they graduate from specialized schools. But education is good quality. The diploma of the Bulgarian university is recognized by Europe.

How do pensioners live?

The retirement age for a woman is 63;
for a man - 65 years.
the average pension is 21,500 rubles.

Please note that the pension is 577 leva, and the official living wage only 300 leva. So, being a pensioner is even beneficial.

Many elderly people from Russia are moving. To get them they just need to have a high pension and open a bank account.

I hope I did not confuse you with an abundance of numbers and prices. I would like my article to help you understand the life of this wonderful country.

Subscribe to my blog, find even more useful articles and rules, and you will also receive as a gift, completely free of charge, an excellent basic phrasebook in three languages, English, German and French. Its main advantage is that there is a Russian transcription, therefore, even without knowing the language, you can easily master colloquial phrases.

I was with you, Natalya Glukhova, I wish you a good day!

6 ratings, average: 3,17 out of 5)

In the 1980s, high rates of economic growth led to a disruption in the balance of payments. The economic reform undertaken in the late 1980s was aimed at creating a new model of economic management, stimulating the market, giving enterprises much more rights and encouraging competition. In 1989, capital investments reached 102.7 billion dollars (89.7 billion leva at the official exchange rate of 0.873 leva per 1 US dollar), but by that time the main equipment was largely worn out (about 40% was used by more than 10 years). Despite the fact that 42% of all investments in 1989 were directed to the modernization of industry, the introduction of new technologies was slow. Enterprises whose activities were controlled by the state were reorganized into firms. At the end of 1989, 65% of all non-agricultural production was produced by 1,300 state-owned firms. But management miscalculations and the lack of clear regulations hampered the activities of these firms. Inflation, which, according to Western experts, was 3% in 1987, manifested itself not so much in rising prices as in a shortage of goods, as well as in the collapse of the market. In 1989-1990, after many years of systematic shortages of consumer goods, the country faced a deep crisis in the food supply. In general, in the late 1980s, the Bulgarian economy operated with a low level of economic efficiency, which fell further in the first half of the 1990s.

In 1948-1980, the average annual growth rate of national income was 7.5%. Economic growth, very strong in the 1960s-1970s with an average annual growth rate of national income of 8.75% in 1966-1970, 7.8% in 1971-1975, 6.1% in 1976-1980, decreased in 1981-1985 to 3.7%, and in 1986-1989 - up to 3.1% (an increase in 1988 was 2.4%, and in 1989 for the first time a decrease in national income by 0.4% was recorded).

Despite a sharp drop in the level of industrial and agricultural production, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita increased in monetary terms in the early 1990s: BGN 15,677 in 1991, BGN 23,516 in 1992, BGN 32,284 in 1993, BGN 64,903 in 1994 At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the inflation factor, as well as the restructuring of GDP: if in 1990 it consisted of 9% of agricultural products and 56.8% of industrial products, then in 1996 the corresponding figures were 12.6% and 35.7%, and in GDP significantly increased the share of the service sector.

In general, there was a sharp drop in the level of industrial production: by 10.8% in 1990 compared with 1989, and then until 1993 at a slightly lower rate. In 1994, the level of production increased by 4.5% compared to the previous year, while GDP grew by 1.8%, and in 1995 by another 2.6%, but in 1996 it again fell sharply by 8.5% and decreased industrial and agricultural production. By 1995, almost 65% of Bulgarians lived below the poverty line, while more than 70% of earnings had to be spent on food.

Mass demonstrations and a change of government as a result of early parliamentary elections in April 1997 led to a tightening of monetary policy in the spirit of monetarism, which manifested itself in the creation of the Currency Board, an international financial control body that took over many of the functions of the Bulgarian People's Bank. At the same time, there was no rise in industry and agricultural production in 1997-1998.

According to the EU pilot group, at the end of 2002, inflation for the year was 5.9%, the average salary was $82 per month, and foreign investment was $1.2 billion. GDP per capita was estimated at $6,500 (in Romania - 1250 dollars), and the total GDP was estimated at 49.23 billion US dollars. The country's foreign exchange reserve increased in 1997 to $2.4 billion ($506 million in 1996). At the same time, Bulgaria's foreign debt by the end of 1997 amounted to 9.9 billion dollars, i.e. 113.5% of GDP (in 1996 - 103%). In 1998, revenues to the treasury from privatization reached 665 million dollars.

As of October 1994, the number of employed in Bulgaria was 2868 thousand people, and the unemployed - 740 thousand. forestry - 18.5%, in other sectors of material production - 16.8%, and in the non-productive sphere - 19.9%, then in 1994 the corresponding figures were 29.1; 5.9; 23.2; 19.6 and 22.2%.

Theoretically, Bulgaria's hydropower resources are estimated at about 25 billion kWh, in practice, about 10 billion kWh can be used, but less than 1/3 of them were used in the 1980s.

The total capacity of all stations in 1995 was 10.25 million kW, with 57% of the energy produced at thermal power plants, 25% at nuclear power plants and 18% at hydroelectric power plants. In May 1996, one of the reactors of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant was shut down for technical reasons. In the 1990s, nuclear energy was recognized as the main direction of future development. International financial organizations are assisting Bulgaria in the reconstruction of nuclear power plants in order to increase its reliability. In 1997, difficulties arose with the import of oil and gas from the CIS countries, but they were overcome, and imports of crude oil increased.

Organization and planning of production. In 1945–1990, the share of the state sector of the economy in Bulgaria was the largest compared to other Eastern European countries, and the overall organization and planning of production was the monopoly of the state and the party nomenclature. In the late 1940s, the State Planning Committee was established on the model of the State Planning Committee of the USSR. He had the rank of a ministry and worked closely with the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Already in the early 1960s, attempts were made to criticize rigid centralization. A limited reform stimulated the work of enterprises on the basis of the principle of self-sufficiency, but in July 1968, after the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP, production began to return to the former mainstream of central planning. After the plenum of the Central Committee of the BKP in April 1970, state and collective farms were reorganized into large enterprises, which became known as agro-industrial complexes (AIC), which consisted of several formerly independent farms and small industrial enterprises. In 1975 there were 175 agro-industrial complexes with an average area of 24,500 hectares each and 6,000 people employed. At the same time, the state began to create state trusts in industry, uniting all enterprises in a particular industry. In the mid-1970s, there were approx. 100 such giant production associations.

In the 1980s, Bulgaria returned to the course of decentralization by introducing a "new economic mechanism" - planning became a matter of coordination rather than leadership. In 1989–1990, the organization and planning of the economy in Bulgaria combined two strategies. The first allowed the expansion of the initiative of state firms and their entrepreneurial activities, and the second sought to preserve the role of ministries as intermediaries between the state and firms.

Agriculture. Bulgaria successfully combines favorable climatic conditions, natural soil fertility and centuries-old farming traditions, which creates the prerequisites for the prosperity of agriculture. By the end of the 1980s, the main types of agricultural work (plowing, sowing, harvesting and harrowing) were completely mechanized. In 1989, the total area of cultivated land was 4.65 million hectares; 5.4 million tons of wheat and 1.6 million tons of barley were harvested; the harvest of corn, beans, sunflowers, sugar beet, tobacco and cotton was below the annual average of 1981–1985. In 1986-1989, the collection of fruits, vegetables and potatoes was significantly reduced. The traditional export of Bulgaria is rose oil, which is widely used in the perfume industry. In terms of its production and export, the country ranks first in the world.

Livestock production declined in the 1970s and 1980s as a result of mismanagement and the inability to address the problem of feed supply. As a result of the crisis in agriculture, the domestic market turned out to be insufficiently supplied with milk, meat, eggs, and wool.

In 1995, the number of cattle was 638 thousand (1/3 less than in 1993), pigs - 1986 thousand (in 1993 - 2680 thousand). Meat production decreased from 132 thousand tons in 1992 to 97 thousand tons in 1994 and began to recover at a slow pace only from 1996. At the same time, wheat production increased (1992 - 3433 thousand tons, 1994 - 3788 thousand tons), and also corn and other grains (with the exception of the lean year 1996). The processing of vegetables and fruits has sharply decreased, the tobacco industry was in a deep crisis.

Manufacturing industry. The main goals of industrial policy in the 1990s were to accelerate structural adjustment and technological progress. Electronics, biotechnology and the production of some chemical products were identified as priority areas in the hope of then establishing a wide export. High growth rates - approx. 15% per year were achieved in electrical engineering and electronics, while the volume of production in mechanical engineering remained the same.

The unsatisfactory state of agriculture in the 1990s hindered the development of the food and light industries.

The dynamics of industrial production for the period from 1980 to 1994 is as follows: 1980 - 100%, 1990 - 116, 1991 - 98, 1992 - 94, 1993 - 101, 1994 - 109%. However, in the second half of the 1990s, the pace of industrial development accelerated markedly. In the corresponding years of the same period, there was a significant decline in agricultural production: 92, 85, 79, 63, 59%, and the rate of recovery of its potential in the second half of the 1990s was significantly lower than in industry.

In 1996–1997, Bulgaria's foreign trade turnover was characterized by a negative balance in trade with Russia and a decrease in oil supplies (by 40%) and gas (by 18%) due to an increase in their cost. In exports, this period includes an increase in the share of tobacco products. In recent years, trade relations with EU countries have been established, but the growth of public debt, as well as low economic development indicators, postpone the prospect of Bulgaria joining this organization (according to the results of the December 1997 meeting, it was not among the countries with which the EU began accession negotiations).

Finance and banking. The Bulgarian Central Bank is the main banking institution and issuing bank. He owns 72% of the shares of the Foreign Trade Bank, founded in 1964 to make external payments. The State Savings Bank provides banking services to the population. Commercial banks appeared in 1987.

The state budget. The Bulgarian government has never published annual budgets. The main revenue items of the budget are taxes on profits received by enterprises from manufactured products and from turnover (sales). The largest item in the expenditure side of the budget is the cost of developing sectors of the national economy. According to Western experts, in 1988 defense spending was $2.47 billion. In 1990, the communist reformist government recognized the existence of a budget deficit and the associated public debt. In 1989, the total debt of Bulgaria amounted to $1 billion, in 1990 it rose to $1.388 billion. By the beginning of 1994, the debt was already $12.25 billion, and its decline was only in the late 1990s.

In the first half of the 1990s, the ratio of revenues and expenditures of the state budget (in million leva) was: in 1990 - 32,081 and 33,394; in 1992 - 67,491 and 77,126; in 1993 - 99,875 and 133,877. deficits were overcome only by the end of the 1990s. In 1997, the IMF undertook to carry out an examination of the country's financial activities for about 10 years, establishing control over the banking system, but there were no signs of an economic recovery. At the beginning of 1999, prices for bread (by about 10%), electricity and consumer goods (by 20–30%) rose in Bulgaria. This caused discontent among the population, especially since the campaign against financial and industrial groups (including the largest private concern, accused by the prime minister of a "sugar scam") was not successful.

The area is 111.0 thousand km2.

The population is 8.3 million people.

The capital is Sofia (1.1 million people).

Geographical position. The Republic of Bulgaria is a Balkan, Danubian and Black Sea state. It has the shape of a compact quadrangle, the length from east to west is 520 km, from north to south - 330 km. Its neighbors in the north are Romania, in the northwest - Serbia and Montenegro, in the southwest - Macedonia, in the south - Greece, in the southeast - Turkey. 1182 km. state borders - land, 686 km. borders pass along the Danube River and 378 km. - In the waters of the Black Sea.

The neighboring countries of Bulgaria - Turkey and Greece - countries of the middle economic level development with market industrial relations, NATO. The issues of the Turkish and Greek communities on the island of Cyprus have not been fully resolved. Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia are countries with economies in transition, sharpened intrastate, interethnic and interfaith relations.

The Shidno-Balkan location of Bulgaria contributes to the development of interstate relations between the countries of Europe and Asia on its territory, but the absence of direct land borders with strategic partners of Ukraine, Russia and the EU member countries somewhat weakens their intensity.

Historical and geographical features of the formation of the territory and the state-political system. The beginning of the formation of the modern Bulgarian state falls on the second half of XIX in. Bulgaria's borders were finally established in 1940.

In the historical past, a significant political contribution to the history and material culture of Bulgaria was made by the Phoenicians, who inhabited it since the period of the "Bronze Age". They were engaged in agriculture and grazing. Slavic tribes came to the territory of modern Bulgaria in the VI century. Together with the assimilated Phoenicians, as well as the Turkic tribes of the Bulgarians who arrived from the North Caucasus (the name of the state of Bulgaria came from the name of this tribe), they created the first (685-1018) and second (1185 - 1396) Bulgarian states, then played a significant role in relations with Byzantium and the countries of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

The real test for Bulgaria came after the Turkish invasion in 1396 and enslavement, which lasted five centuries and ended with independence in 1878 as a result of the Russian-Turkish war. Despite the long stay in the Ottoman Empire, the Bulgarian people have retained their culture and national identity.

In World War I, Bulgaria supported Germany. In 1919, after the end of the war, through the redistribution of territories and changes in borders, it lost significant southern and western territories, access to the Aegean Sea.

In 1940, fascist Germany occupied Bulgaria, in 1944 the Soviet troops liberated it.

During the period of so-called socialist construction, Bulgaria continued to develop its economy. Since 1946, the formation of a new industrial-agrarian structure of the economy began in the country (at that time, the NRB).

In the early 90s of the XX century. democratic reforms began in the country, reforms were carried out. The Constitution (1991) enshrined the democratic principles of Bulgaria's development. It became a parliamentary republic. The highest legislative body is the People's Assembly, the head of state is the president, who is elected for five years. Executive power belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers. There are about 90 parties in the state.

The administrative-territorial structure of the country (1999) includes 28 regions, 285 communities. The monetary unit is the lev.

Natural conditions and resources. The relief of Bulgaria is diverse, its main forms have a latitudinal orientation. The northern and northeastern parts lie within the Lower Danube lowland and the lowland of the Maritsa River, they are separated by the mountain systems of Staraya Planina. In the south there are the Rila mountain ranges (the highest point in Bulgaria - Musul Peak 2925), Pirin, Rhodopes.

The main group of minerals in Bulgaria is lead-zinc (Rhodopi), copper (Staraya Planina), manganese (Kremikovtsi, Varna) and iron (Kremikovtsi) ores, brown coal (New ISCAR, Tverditsa), lignites (a type of brown coal) - the Skhidnomaritsky basin . Insignificant reserves of oil and associated gas have been explored in the Lower Danube Lowland (near Pleven) and the Black Sea Lowland (Shabla region). The country has industrial reserves of rock salt (Provadia), significant resources of mineral healing waters.

Bulgaria is located at the junction of two climatic zones - temperate and subtropical (Mediterranean). The average temperatures are - 0.6 ° (in the mountains - 11.2 °), July - +22.8 °, annual - +11.7 °. Rainfall ranges from 450 mm/year in the plains to 1300 mm/year in the mountainous regions.

The river system of Bulgaria is dense. The waters of the Maritsa, Struma and Mesta rivers are of energy importance, the Danube is of transport and agricultural (irrigation) importance.

The soil cover of the country is typical chernozems and their varieties in the lowland and plain regions, in the foothill and mountainous regions meadow and soddy forests predominate.

About 30% of the country's territory is covered with forests. Broad-leaved species predominate - 65% (beech, oak), conifers account for 35%. The main purpose of forests is environmental and recreational functions.

Bulgaria is especially proud of its recreational resources: beaches, mineral healing springs, mud, historical and architectural monuments. Among the regions that have such resources are the Black Sea coast, the mountain ranges of Staraya Planina and the Eastern Rhodopes, as well as the cities of Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv and others.

Population. The population of Bulgaria on 01.01.1998 totaled 8.3 million people, which is 0.7 million people less than in 1989. The process of population depopulation is caused by such negative phenomena: negative natural increase (-0.66%) of the population, an increase share of the elderly population (16% over 65 years), migration. About 86% of the population - Bulgarians, so it belongs to the single-ethnic countries with a fairly large proportion of national minorities: 10% - Turks, 4% - other nations and nationalities. About 500,000 Bulgarians live outside the country, half of which live in Ukraine. The main religion is Orthodoxy, about 12% of the population are Muslims.

Bulgaria has a high level of urbanization. In 230 cities, the largest of which are Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and others, 70% of the country's population lives, in 5300 rural settlements - only 30%. The average population density of the country is 74.6 individuals/km2. The maximum is 100 ind./km2 in intermountain basins and flat areas, the minimum is less than 50 ind./km2 in mountainous regions.

The average age for women is 74.3 and for men 67.1 years. The share of the unemployed population (as of 01.01.1998) was 14.4%. GDP indicator per capita - 1220 US dollars.

Economy, intersectoral and sectoral complexes. From an agrarian backward country, Bulgaria has turned into an industrial-agrarian country with an average level of development. As of January 1, 1999, the share of industrial production was 34.8% of the gross national product, agriculture - 14.1%, in the service sector - 51%. Recreational and entertainment economy is of exceptional importance for the country.

Transformational socio-political processes in Bulgaria in the 90s of the XX century. caused reforms national economy. There was a denationalization of enterprises, involvement in the production of private national and foreign capital. The country is still in search of an optimal development model.

The basis of the fuel and energy complex is mining and power generating enterprises. their share in 1998 amounted to 12.9% of the country's industrial output. Among the extractive industries, the first place belongs to coal industry. The country annually produces 29-32 million tons of brown coal, of which 80% is lignite. The main basin is the East Maritsky with wounded and blocky centers. Oil and natural gas production is negligible. their indicators are respectively 0.7-1.0 million tons and 0.6-0.8 billion m3/year and cover about 10% of the total needs. The main deposits in Alexandrov near Pleven and the city of Shabla and the northern shelf part of the Black Sea.

As of January 1, 1999, 31.9 billion kWh were produced in Bulgaria. electricity, created a unified energy system. The significant dependence of Bulgaria on the import of energy resources, the rise in prices in the world market led to an increase in the share of electricity production at the Kozloduy NPP to 47% and a decrease in thermal power plants to 45%. Its production increased from 5% to 8% at HPPs built on the Maritsa rivers and tributaries of the ISCAR and Ardi. The country compensates for the lack of electricity with imports from Romania, partly from Ukraine.

Non-ferrous metallurgy is of great domestic and international importance for Bulgaria. It produces and exports lead, zinc and copper. The main centers are Plovdiv, Kardzhali and Zlatitsi. Ferrous metallurgy works both on its own and on imported raw materials from Ukraine and Russian Federation. About 3.5 million tons of various products are produced annually. The main enterprise of the full metallurgical cycle is the Kremikovtsi plant (Sofia) and the plant in Pernik. Although the metallurgical complex is one of the main links in the national economy of Bulgaria, producing 12.7% of industrial output (1998), it does not meet the country's demand for metal.

Mechanical engineering is a new industry for Bulgaria. It began to develop in the early 50s of the XX century. and today it has four production lines - electrical engineering (Sofia, Rese, Gabrovo, Plovdiv), lifting and transport engineering (Sofia, Plovdiv), shipbuilding (Varna, Burgas, Ruse), agricultural engineering (Ruse). In Sofia, Ruse, Gabrovo, machine tools and devices are produced, in Gabrovo - woodworking and textile machines, in Plovdiv - printing equipment.

The economic crisis that engulfed Bulgaria in the early 90s of the XX century caused a reduction in engineering production by almost half (from 32% of the share of engineering in industry in 1989 to 14.8% in 1995). Since 1998, the industry has been actively reformed. In the mechanical engineering of Bulgaria, a significant role is played by the financial and industrial groups of the EU countries - Turkey, the Russian Federation. In recent years, the volume of production of the chemical industry has been reduced, although its share in industrial production remains quite high - 17.5% (1998). The basis of its production is: oil refining and petrochemical - Burgas; basic chemistry - Sofia, Devnya; chemistry of organic synthesis - Stara Zagora, Burgas, Devnya; production and processing of polymaterials - Burgas, Svishtov, Vidin. Bulgaria exports perfumes, pharmaceuticals, essential oils, fertilizers.

The building materials industry covers the production of cement (Deven, Pleven, Izovr), the production of bricks, tiles, and glass. Powerful building complexes were formed in large cities.

Light industry is considered one of the oldest industries in Bulgaria. Its share in industrial production is only 7%. Textile and clothing enterprises operate in Sofia, Gabrovo and Sliven, while leather and fur and shoe enterprises operate in Gabrovo, Sofia and Pleven.

Since the 1950s, in Bulgaria, thanks to various forms of ties between agricultural producers and food industries, a powerful agro-industrial complex has been formed.

Special features of agricultural production are the union of the industries of two regions on the territory of the country: the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.

The Lower Danube in the north and the Black Sea in the east are the main agricultural granaries of Bulgaria. their production specialization is the cultivation of cereals (wheat, barley, corn), as well as sugar beets and sunflowers. The flat territory of the Maritsa River in the south-east of the country is an area of vegetable growing, horticulture, viticulture, cotton growing, and from the foothills of the Eastern Rhodopes - a tobacco growing area.

The main specialization of animal husbandry is the breeding of cattle, goats, sheep in the mountainous and foothill areas of Staraya Planina and the Eastern Rhodopes, Dobruja and the Burgas lowland, pig breeding in the foothill and flat areas and poultry farming near large and medium-sized cities.

Significant changes that have taken place over the past decade in the agricultural production of Bulgaria, associated with the private sector (87% of agricultural land), the formation of market relations. Due to the economic crisis, agricultural production decreased by 15 - 37%.

The food industry plays an important role in the structure of the Bulgarian economy, accounting for 22.7% of production (1998).

The location of the main groups of food processing enterprises is associated with the areas of specialization of agricultural production. Canning enterprises are located in the areas of the Lower Danube Plain (Pleven, Ruse, Gorna Orekhovitsa), winemaking in the western part of the Maritskoy Lowland and the adjacent slopes of Staraya Planina (Asenograd, Pomorie, Aytos), sugar processing in the Lower Danube Plain (Ruse, Lom), the cities of Plovdiv, Devnya, tobacco processing and production of cigarettes (Sofia, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora), essential oil (Plovdiv, Stara Zagora).

The recreational complex of Bulgaria is of international importance. Every year, the country receives as many foreign tourists as the population lives in it. Bulgaria is famous for sea ("Golden Sands", "Albena", "Sunny Beach"), mountain (Aleko, Borovets, Malyovitse) and balneological (Bankya, Konstendil) resorts. Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo are popular historical and cultural centers that are actively visited by tourists.

Transport system. Bulgaria has all the main types of transport links. At the beginning of the XX century. the international road Berlin-Belgrade-Sofia-Istanbul-Tehran was laid through the territory of the country parallel to the highway Europe-Asia Minor. Of great importance for the development of transport links with the countries of Eastern Europe was the completion in 1954 of the construction of a two-tier bridge across the Danube River near the city of Ruse.

The bulk of traffic in Bulgaria (more than 80%) is accounted for by rail and road. The basis of their networks is a lattice frame. From the largest transport hub - Sofia - in three directions to the east, the northern (to Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna), Balkan (to Kazanlak, Sliven, Burgas) and southern (to Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Burgas) railway lines diverge. they are crossed from north to south by the Vidin-Sofia-Blagoevgrad-Kulata highway; Rousse - Veliko Tarnovo - Kazanlak - Horseshoe. The length of the existing railways in the country is 4294 km, of which 65.4% are electrified. Main cargo - Construction Materials, coke, metals, engineering products.

The length of motor roads in Bulgaria is 36.7 thousand km. A significant part is being reconstructed, taking into account international standards. The main load of road transport in the country falls on a large main ring (more than 1000 km.), Which connects the largest cities - industrial and recreational centers of the country Sofia-Pleven-Botevgrad-Varna-Burgas-Plovdiv, and forms a network of adjacent roads of internal national importance .

Bulgaria is a maritime power. The ports of Burgas and Varna can receive ocean-going vessels, and the port infrastructure can load and unload dry and liquid cargo. There is a ferry service between Varna and the Ukrainian port of Ilyichevsk. For international communications with European countries, ports on the Danube River (Ruse, Lom) are used.

In Bulgaria, a ring of pipelines has been built from the borders with Romania, supplying gas to the cities of Varna, Burgas, Plovdiv, Sofia, Pleven and the territories adjacent to them.

The country has three international airports (Sofia, Varna, Burgas) and more than ten airports that serve domestic flights.

The state of development and functioning of the economy can be considered stable. The inflation rate in 1998 reached 6.2% and is the lowest in the last ten years.

External links. At the level of interstate relations, Bulgaria is known as a member of the UN, the country is a member of many interstate political and economic organizations. It is a member of the Council of Europe, and, like Ukraine, is a member of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, the Black Sea Rapid Reaction Force.

Since the second half of the 1990s, Bulgaria has stepped up interstate economic ties. As a result, as of January 1, 1999, more than 2,000 joint ventures operated in the country. This contributed to the influx of foreign investment, the latest technology. In the cities of Burgas, Vidin, Plovdiv, Ruse, a regime of free economic zones has been introduced.

During this period, there was a transformation of foreign trade relations. The share increased from 34% to 52% of export turnover with the countries of Western and Central Europe decreased from 56% to 32% with the CIS countries. Expanded geography economic cooperation with the countries of the North and Latin America, Asia, Africa.

Bulgaria's main export products are tobacco and tobacco products, canned goods, wines, essential oils, non-ferrous ores and non-ferrous metals, hoisting and loading machines, batteries. The structure of imports is dominated by energy resources, iron ore, metals, engineering products.

Ukraine and Bulgaria in December 1994 signed a cooperation agreement. According to these agreements, Bulgaria imports iron ores, metal, coking coal, machinery and equipment, exports perfumes, wines, chemicals and machinery. There are close cultural ties between the countries.

Territorial differences. In socio-economic development, the territory of Bulgaria is heterogeneous.