Оплата труда работников-солеваров и цены на соль в годы Соляной реформы

Петербургский исторический журнал: исследования по российской и всеобщей истории. 2024. № 3(43). С. 59–73.

Dadykina M.

The article, which is based on the account books of the salt enterprises of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery, examines the management decisions made by the monastery elders who were in charge of the enterprises during the period of crisis that was caused by the salt reform of Alexei Mikhailovich. The evolution of salt prices in the local markets of Tot’ma and Sol Vychegodskaya during this period is examined, as well as its correlation with the remuneration of hired salt workers. It can be argued that in challenging circumstances and an unfavourable market environment, prices proved to be more susceptible to fluctuations where local markets had already established themselves, with the slightest disruption to the system having a more pronounced impact. The analysis of workers’ earnings reveals the existing differentiation of sustainability for specialists of different categories. Those most vulnerable to the vicissitudes of the local labour market were the narrowly specialised professionals, for whom a deterioration in the local labour market could have catastrophic consequences. Conversely, no direct correlation was identified between fluctuations in workers’ earnings and price fluctuations in local markets. This finding highlights the multi-level and internally contradictory structure of the Russian early modern economy.

Keywords: трудовые ресурсы, управленческие решения, раннее Новое время, management decisions, Early Modern Times, Spaso-Prilutsky monastery, Спасо-Прилуцкий монастырь, salt enterprises, соляные промыслы, Market of labor resources, early industry, ранняя индустрия, Salt Reform, Соляная реформа