On the dynamics of standard of living in Russia, 1874–1912

Abstract

The question of the development of living standards in Russia prior to the First World War
is controversial. Whereas traditional historiography supported the pessimistic point of view, the
revisionist ‘optimistic’ school thinks that the standard of living rose and that the Russian revolution
was a result of political, rather than economic, factors. One of the main arguments of the ‘optimistic’
school is the increase in the height of conscripts in the period 1874-1912 revealed by the calculations
of B.N.Mironov. This article is a critical analysis of the calculations of B.N.Mironov. The authors
point out that these calculations contain a mistake, caused by B.N.Mironov’s ignoring the 1890
alteration in the way the reports on the heights of recruits were compiled. When accurately
calculated, the height of recruits did not increase, and this seriously weakens the arguments of the
‘optimistic’ school.