Az osztrák–magyar határvita gazdasági aspektusai az első világháború után
Economic Aspects of the Austro–Hungarian Border Dispute after the World War I

Summary/Abstract: The possession of the narrow border strip in western Hungary was more of a symbolic nature than real economic value in the crisis management of the two states. For internal consolidation and legitimacy, Vienna and Budapest both needed foreign policy successes and lively trade relations. When Austria officially laid claim to the predominantly German-speaking areas of German-West Hungary, it did not occupy the area and used no other means to pressure the area transfer. Behind Vienna’s wait-and-see policy were–among other things–serious economic coercion. In the border dispute, the Hungarian strategy was initially based on the exploitation of Austrian food dependence. Following the Austrian peace treaty this policy shifted to time drag. Despite political and territorial unrest, the economies of Austria and Hungary remained closely intertwined after the First World War. The transfer of territory in late autumn 1921 made it possible to normalize trade relations and thus contributed to the consolidation of both states. Overall, the significant political, diplomatic and military efforts invested in the border dispute were not balanced with the economic and ethnographic benefits of the area.

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