Economic policy in Russia at the edge of XIX–XX centuries (main trends)

The article contains the research of main trends in formation of economic policy in Russia, which began to develop already in the second half of the XIX century and has been finally established at the edge of the centuries. This process has been long and controversial. In general, this policy has been initiated and partially formalized by the ministers of finance: M.Kh. Reitern, N.Kh. Bunge and I.A. Vyshnegradskiy and has been presented in its final version during the period of S.Y. Vitte (1892–1903) and, in general, continued during the period of V.N. Kokovrsov (1904–1914) being the ministers. This policy has been marked in history as “Vitte’s Program”, which, in general, reflected real needs of the country’s economic modernization and stimulated its development, mostly in the industrial sphere and transport. The weak chain in Vitte’s policy remained agriculture. Although realization of Stolypin’s agricultural reform (1906–1912) contributed to its partial intensification, it has not been possible to finally intensify the agricultural sector and after V.N. Kokovtsov’s resignation at the end of 1913, the government’s economic policy was heavily criticized by the State Duma and especially — by the activists of the trade and industrial sector, which contributed to the weakening of the political authority of the monarchy in bourgeoisie circles.