It is natural to ask whether a country like Bulgaria, which was still developing after its liberation, could maintain and expand small industries and handicrafts—especially if these were protected only by artificial state restrictions. The answer to this question is both yes and no, depending on how quickly the nation’s productive forces grow compared to its new social and economic needs.
While it may be difficult for small workshops to compete with large factories, it is still possible for handicrafts to survive, though they may take on a new form. They might adapt to modern conditions by improving their quality, focusing on unique or traditional products, or working together in small cooperatives. In this way, handicrafts will not completely disappear but will continue to exist alongside new types of manufacturing.
Handicrafts in Modern Economic Development
Even in older and more industrialized countries, handicrafts have not been destroyed by modern industry. For more than fifty years, capitalist manufacturing has existed in Western Europe, and yet many traditional crafts still survive. They have changed in character, using new tools and methods, but their creative and cultural value remains.
This shows that the development of large-scale industry does not automatically mean the end of small-scale production. Instead, it often leads to a division of labor, where factories produce mass goods while artisans focus on fine or custom-made items.
Gradual Change, Not Sudden Disappearance
In Bulgaria, economic growth will certainly influence all existing forms of production. Some trades will disappear entirely because they can no longer compete with machines or imported goods. Others will improve and reach a higher level of skill and organization, and still others will merge into larger manufacturing enterprises Sofia Sightseeing.
However, this transformation will not happen quickly or suddenly, as some people in Bulgaria once believed. Economic change is a gradual process, shaped by education, investment, technology, and consumer demand. To expect immediate results would be to misunderstand the basic principles of political economy.
Therefore, while Bulgaria’s economic development will undoubtedly bring change, handicrafts will not vanish overnight. Instead, they will evolve, adapt, and continue to play an important role in preserving national traditions and providing livelihoods for skilled workers.