The black market: key in stabilizing the Franco’s regime

Abstract

The article analyses the black market or «estraperlo» phenomenon in Spain during the postwar years. It explores why it appeared, describing and explaining its functioning. It also studies the two different types of black market: the «big estraperlo», developed by the regime grassroots, tolerated by the «New State» and through which impressive benefits were obtained; and the «small estraperlo», the black market featured by the lower social classes, sternly persecuted by Francoist authorities, and that it had no other goal than to reach survival in the context of a harsh socioeconomic context. The «estraperlo» was a real «political weapon» for the General Franco regime, because through its management rewarded its grassroots while punished and excluded the lower social classes. Thus, the «estraperlo» was an essential cornerstone to assure the stability of the Francoist regime.