Rationing the immediate post-war period, rationing was in place until 1948. Shortages of food products were common in Poland at that time, but food rations also served another purpose. Cards were unevenly distributed by the Communist authorities—leading udarniks, known in Poland as "przodownicy pracy", were entitled to as much as 3700 calories daily, while some white-collar workers received as little as 600 calories a day. Rationing covered more than food products. From April 1952 to January 1953 and from August 1976 to November 1985 ration stamps were introduced for shoes, cigarettes, sugar, sweets, liquor, soap, baby diapers, tires, and cars. From
Rationing in Cuba to return to the previous area for their supplies. Products distributed through the "libreta" mechanism are sold at subsidized prices, which have been kept more or less stable since its inception (the mean salary of a worker has varied very little since, as well). The "libreta" contains a page for every month, where the clerk marks what products were withdrawn, and in which quantities. Cubans are required to present the "libreta" each time they buy the rations. At its inception, the rationing system included not only food products, but industrial products as well. Along with the "libreta", a tear-off coupon