Estonia Was Comparatively Richer in 1930s, Says Historian
Jaak Valge, a well-known historian and Tallinn University researcher, says that Estonians today are worse off than in the 1930s in comparison to the rest of the continent.
“If the current Estonia is more than two times poorer than Finland, then before [World War II] Finland was a quarter wealthier. While Portugal is presently richer than Estonia, Estonians were far more wealthy in the 1930s than the Portuguese, “ said Valge, speaking on ETV on Sunday.
Readjusting to euros and valuing one old Estonian kroon to eight euros, Valge said that teachers might have been paid around 120 kroons or 960 euros a month, officials more and skilled laborers 720 euros.
Food costs made up the largest expense sector in the 1930s, with butter costing around 16 euros per kilo, twice as much as today, meat was around 8 euros per kilo, potatoes 60 cents. Rent would have been cheaper, costing around 80-240 euros for a one- or two-room flat.
Clothes and shoes were far more expensive, costing around 300 euros for a cheaper suit and 80-240 euros for shoes or boots.
As of Wednesday, March 27, the “re-independence “ period of Estonia will have lasted longer than the first interwar era of freedom.
