There are different criteria with which Mussolini's effectiveness in managing the economy of Italy up to 1939 can be judged. We can either look at it with Mussolini's goals for the economy in mind, or look at the overall effectiveness of the economy. Mussolini wanted a strong economy in Italy to build the foundation for his imperial dreams for Italy. He wanted to transform Italy into a world power, and for that, he required a strong, stable economy. .
Mussolini faced early economic successes from 1922-1925. Italy benefited along with the rest of the world from the growth of international trade after World War I. In 1925, unemployment was down to a ¼ of what it was five years ago. Many new firms were set up and several government agencies were privatised, giving boosts to the economy. At this point in time, it looked as if a strong economy was swiftly on its way as Mussolini wished. The economic successes of this period were not through the efforts of Mussolini, but were the result of an international boom in the economy as a result of the end of the war. .
To get Italy on the road to economic prosperity, Mussolini introduced three battles' - the Battle of the Marshes, the Battle for the Lira and the Battle for Grain. The goal of the Battle of the Marshes was to increase the amount of land available to farm and to improve health by reducing malaria. Economically, it is considered a success, because of the jobs it provided during the unemployment during the depression. The Battle for the Lira was a revaluation of the Lira at a higher rate to reduce inflation and to make it appear stronger than it was. It is arguable whether Mussolini achieved his goals in this battle', but it hurt the economy by making exports overpriced and lowering wages. The Battle for Grain was part of Mussolini's dream of Italian autarky. He wanted self-sufficiency in grain, so that when war came, Italy wouldn't be dependent on other nations for it's grain.
