Bulgarian Empire

Ferdinand knew very well that the capitalists were greedy, and if they were killed with a stick, God knows what would happen to them. At the same time, capitalists are also weak, and they will compromise if they open a hole.

In just half a year, no less than 100,000 foreigners poured into Bulgaria. The sinister Ferdinand naturally chose to sacrifice their interests in exchange for the capitalists' compromise.

At the same time, he did not forget to open an opening to encourage foreigners to learn Bulgarian and join Bulgaria. Of course, the main purpose is to promote ethnic integration and increase the population.

Labor law, in addition to winning a wave of people's hearts for Ferdinand. There is also an unseen benefit in the short term, dampening the enthusiasm of the working-class movement.

The working-class Social Democracy, which has not yet been established in Bulgaria, is dead. Although its founder, Braggev, was killed by Stam's cabinet in 1889 under Ferdinand's butterfly effect.

Due to Ferdinand's crossing, in 1890, the number of Bulgarian employees had reached 480,000, of which foreign labor accounted for a quarter, and the economic development rate far exceeded the level of the same period in history.

Due to the government's vigorous investment in infrastructure, employment has been increased, domestic demand has been stimulated, and the Bulgarian economy has developed rapidly.

Although the number of Bulgarian workers has increased significantly, it has not changed the situation of backward industrial development.

In addition to Ferdinand's own industry, most of the factories in Bulgaria are still small workshops, with backward technology and lack of competitiveness, scattered distribution and small scale, and extremely poor ability to resist risks.

In order to change this situation, Ferdinand decided to continue to deepen the reform. A small country with a population of only 3.2 million and more than 1,000 large and small factories is a waste of resources to compete for this small market.

On September 20th, the Royal Palace of Sofia was engaged in a big debate to determine the future direction of Bulgaria's economy. In addition to government officials, a small number of Bulgarian economists were invited.

Under the hint of Ferdinand, Constantine submitted a proposal for the "Industry Access Standards" to the government. That is: to set an industry threshold, eliminate some weak capitalists, and artificially restrict the entry of latecomers. Disguised support for corporate mergers and reorganizations to promote the development of monopoly capitalism.

If this plan is passed, it means that in the next five years, more than 1,000 factories in Bulgaria will be merged or reorganized or closed.

Obviously, this plan does not have much market right now. At the end of the 19th century, liberal capitalism was the most popular, and major powers in Europe and the United States were all working hard against monopoly capitalism.

In 1890, the United States had just promulgated the Sherman Act to promote monopoly capitalism. No matter how you looked at it, it felt like it was going upstream.

Constantine started a war of words, "Gentlemen, everyone knows the current predicament of Bulgaria. We are just a small country with a population of less than three million and lack of mineral resources. The process of industrialization has come to this point, and many of our industrial raw materials are Depends on imports. Many factories are backward in management and technology, and their products are seriously lacking in international competitiveness. They can only rely on the domestic market. Last year, the import and export trade deficit was as high as 60 million levs! If things go on like this, how can our economy develop healthily?”

"But Mr. Constantine, the "Industry Access Plan" has destroyed the free capitalist market, and the state has intervened too much in the market economic order, destroying the fairness of society, and the consequences are unimaginable!" Economist Velen Soma

"Mr. Velen, you are too alarmist. The state's intervention in the market economy is for the normal development of the Bulgarian economy and to eliminate hidden dangers in advance! If you really let it go, why do domestic capitalists compete with international capital?" Constantine

"Mr. Konstantin, we all know that there is no development without competition. What we need to do now is not to promote monopoly, but to raise tariffs to protect the development of national industries!" Minister of Industry Kamilaev

"Mr Kamilaev,

How big is the Bulgarian market? Only three million people can support industrialization, is it possible? If we can't do that, we have to rely on the international market. What is the use of raising tariffs other than keeping us out of the international market? ' asked Constantine rhetorically.

Seeing that no one answered, Constantine struck while the iron was hot and said, "Gentlemen, now we have no choice. Either give up industrialization, or implement monopoly, reduce internal friction, and force capitalists to innovate in technology and improve product competitiveness!"

"Constantine is right, monopoly is not a good thing for the powers, but it is the best for Bulgaria right now!" Chekov

"What is the most suitable? It is nothing more than the best interests of someone!"

"Bullshit!"

...

You come and go on both sides, each expressing his own opinions and arguing endlessly. It seems that the reasons for supporting monopoly are stronger, and the opposition is so numerous that it quickly changes, and the smell of gunpowder is getting stronger and stronger.

Ferdinand promptly stopped the intensifying quarrel between the two sides, "Enough, give me peace! Please pay attention to your identity and do not attack yourself! Only this time, if anyone commits another crime, he will be deprived of his qualifications to participate in the discussion!"

Seeing that Ferdinand was angry, the two sides feasted. "Fortunately, the Congress has been dissolved, otherwise it will be even more lively!" Ferdinand thought happily, and at the same time he made up his mind, to introduce as much controversial bills as possible before the Congressional election.

On the one hand, monopoly hinders the development of technology, which has been illustrated by many examples; but on the other hand, it also contains factors that promote the development of technology.

For, under the conditions of monopoly capitalism, the development of science and technology, the improvement of the quality of the labor force, the expansion of the scale of production and accumulation, the development of the social integration of the production process, are all separate from the development of monopoly competition, the concentration of production, the joint system, the specialization of labor, etc. not open.

Ferdinand knew very well that at this stage the best fit for Bulgaria was monopoly. But when Bulgaria develops and grows to a certain extent, monopoly will become an obstacle to economic development.

The resistance to reform is somewhat beyond Ferdinand's imagination. The opposition within the government alone is so powerful.

After a moment of silence, Ferdinand decided to adopt a roundabout strategy, learning from the American tycoon's protagonist, Schigo.

Having thought of a strategy, Ferdinand hastily ended the government meeting, leaving Constantine behind.

Constantine was a little uneasy now. Judging from the meeting just now, what Ferdinand explained was a mess.

Ferdinand looked at Constantine who was not in state and asked, "Mr. Constantine, do you think the "Industry Access Plan" is feasible?"

Constantine said without hesitation: "It's possible!"