The Impact Of The Voucher Supply System On The Population’s Consumption(1953-1978)

Consumption carries the passion and desire of people’s life and is an important link in the process of social production.In 1953,when China entered a new period of industrialization,the Communist Party of China,based on a comprehensive analysis of the allocation of resources and the needs of the people,implemented a system of supplying consumer goods on a per capita basis,in the face of consumption difficulties caused by shortages of materials and the urgent task of accumulating industrialization.The system of supplying goods on the basis of tickets went through a process of development from the initial unified sale of basic materials such as grain,oil,cotton and cloth,to the gradual expansion of the scope of supply to many areas of consumption such as clothing,food and use,and then to the gradual abolition after the reform and opening up.In the process of implementation,due to the differences between people,places and times,the system of supplying goods by ticket,while adhering to the principle,paid attention to the flexibility,combined the general and special objects of supply,combined the national and local tickets in the process of circulation,and combined the supply by ticket and purchase without tickets in the process of consumption,so that the system of supplying goods by ticket could be effectively implemented.As an important distribution policy during the planned economy,the voucher system has a significant impact on residents’ daily consumption from both macro and micro perspectives.From the macro perspective,through the implementation of the voucher system,the basic livelihood of the residents is guaranteed,prices are stable for a long time and supply and demand are in a basic balance,which creates a stable consumption environment for the residents.However,from a micro perspective,the voucher system obviously restricted the residents’ right to consume on their own,resulting in a slow increase in the overall consumption level of the society and the significant characteristics of immediate consumption of the residents.Throughout the history of the voucher system during the planned economy,it not only maintained social stability and promoted industrialization,but also played a positive historical role in the development of a social culture of thrift and diligence in society as a whole.Undeniably,the implementation of the voucher system has,to a certain extent,exacerbated the shortage of consumer goods supply and encouraged the formation of undesirable social customs such as black market transactions and "backdoor".At the same time,the difference in the scope and content of supply has led to a certain degree of inequality in consumption.With the advent of reform and opening up,productivity was greatly released and industrial and agricultural products were greatly enriched,and the voucher system gradually receded from the historical stage.