Tolkach

A tolkach (Russian: толкач, literally "pusher") is a fixer or expediter, typically in a planned economy, who uses informal connections, bribery, and influence to obtain scarce resources and supplies for an enterprise. The term is most strongly associated with the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries.

The tolkach's role was to navigate the often rigid and inefficient bureaucratic structures of the centrally planned economy. They would use personal relationships with officials, managers, and workers in other enterprises and government agencies to circumvent formal supply channels and secure needed materials, equipment, or approvals that were otherwise unavailable or delayed. This could involve bartering, exchanging favors, or offering illicit payments to expedite processes.

The existence of tolkachi was a symptom of the systemic problems inherent in centrally planned economies, such as chronic shortages, lack of coordination, and inflexible allocation systems. While their actions were often technically illegal or at least ethically questionable, they were frequently seen as necessary for enterprises to meet their production targets and survive.

The practice of tolkachestvo (the activities of tolkachi) diminished significantly with the transition to market economies in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, although informal influence and networking continue to play a role in business and government in many of these countries.

Related terms include "blat" (in Russian) which refers more broadly to the use of personal connections for favors, and similar concepts exist in other cultures under different names.