Economic Geography of Roumania

R oOUMANIA an economic paradox, a fact which strikes the traveler the moment he crosses the boundary of the country even for the first time. A famous Roumanian statesman, Take Ionescu, described his country well, when he said that Roumania is a poor land, though rich with natural wealth. Picturesque scenery and quaint customs combine to make the country interesting. The wheat and corn fields of the plains remind the tourist of Kansas and Iowa. The costumes of the workers of the fields are a continual joy to eyes made weary with the ready-made clothing of the western world. In contrast with idyllic scenes we come suddenly upon the busy and smutty oil-field, where American tractors and machinery are run by experts of various nations, not infrequently Americans. From the mountains, the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, which might literally be called the backbone of the country, comes Roumania's wealth of timber. On the Danube River, which forms the southern boundary of the country for three hundred miles, such busy centers as Braila and Galati, constitute active lumber and grain shipping ports during the months when the Danube free of ice. And on the Black Sea located Constantia, the modern year-round port with its docks where may be seen ships flying the flags of all maritime nations of the world. In spite of the fact that Roumania extremely rich in natural resources, the country economically almost unknown to the general public. The resources have as yet been very slightly developed compared to their potentialities. Education, favorable legislation, and foreign capital will some day develop Roumania to her fullest economic capacity. Adequate transportation and rapid communication facilities are important problems confronting the Roumanian people. Roumania a country of the future, Until a very recent period, the people of Roumania could pay but little attention to the natural wealth of their country. All their energies were consumed in the hot fires of political strife. Whatever was produced in the period of clamor and frustration, was immediately absorbed by the unlimited demands of the foreign domination for taxes and tribute. Effective stabilization of the political life will be followed by economic expansion, the intensity of which will no doubt surprise many a casual observer. The present period of the economic life of Roumania a period of transition. The post-war political readjustments needed duplication in the economic life. This process has not by any means been completed. The economic and financial difficulties confronting this Kingdom are now due in part to this process, as well as to the internal and foreign situation. Primarily, however, the universal slump in trade must be considered. Roumania began her existence as a predominantly agricultural country

Economic geography · Geography · Global Trade and Competitiveness

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