Russian economy -1881-1904

minster of finance in 1881

Aims:

two problems:

1. acceletaion of the econmic delevopment of the country

2. consolidation of the nobility's position.

wanted to expand the home market, raise agriculture and industry, and consolidation of the positions of the middle class.

Methods:

1. founded peasnats landbank (1883) - hepled peasants to purchase land

2.labour laws-regulate conditions and child labour- 267 factory inspectors in 1886

3. intorduction of important tax laws, reduce tax  burden of the peasantry.

4. the head tax was abolished and inheritance tax introduced

5. protection of Russian goods- tariffs that doubled the cost of imports

6.government took control over railways, construction of state railways began.

minister of finace from 1887-1892 (Bunges successor)

Aims:

1. settlement of the budget defficit

2 stronger government interference in priavte railways - nationalisation of least profitable railways

3. support the domestic industry-1895 totaled 8.2 Billion rubles, x3.5 more than 1873

methods:

1. restraining public expenditure

2. organised a loan from the french

3.encouraged peasnat mirgation to siberia

4. increasing indirect taxes- greatly unpopular- hurts the peasantry

5. pushing for an export drive- grain export went up by 18% between 1881-1891

6. increasing railway lines- 1890s 60% of railroad system was state owned, 1880s railroad developed at western frontiers.