Bunge Nikolay Khristianovich: a short biography

Nikolai Bunge was Minister of Finance in 1881 - 1886 years. He received this post after the throne was succeeded by Alexander III. Bunge carried out many unpopular reforms, because of which the conservative opposition achieved his resignation. Time has shown that the course chosen by this Minister of Finance was correct.

Personality of the Minister

The future Minister of Finance Bunge Nikolay Khristianovich was born on November 23, 1823 in the family of a doctor. He graduated from the Faculty of Law at Kiev University and after that began his teaching career. In his views, Bunge was a Western liberal and a classic "statesman."

His convictions differed in moderation, which was very useful in the era of Alexander II. The lawyer believed that the Russian state is not yet ready to adopt the constitution. Bunge Nikolai Khristianovich saw the task of his generation in gradual step-by-step reforms, the result of which should affect many years later.

Moving to the capital

For about thirty years the professor taught at the Kiev University. He became the rector three times, while at the same time heading the branch of the State Bank. In 1880 Bunge Nikolay Khristianovich permanently left Kiev and moved to Petersburg. In the capital, he was at the request of the government. The authorities urgently needed new ideas to reform the state and alleviate public tension. At this time, the terror of the Narodnaya Volya and other radicals reached its peak.

What could the state Bunge Nikolay Khristianovich offer? For several decades he prepared his own program of economic transformation. It was based on a rich theoretical foundation, drawn from the experience of Western countries.

Ideas of Bunge

The Bunge program appeared in the era of the Great Reforms, but by the time of the reign of Alexander III, it had survived several revisions. After the logical defeat of Russia in the Crimean War, the financier, like other liberals, pinned his hopes on the development of a private initiative that was to make the greatest contribution to the country's economic development. These expectations were largely forced. The state, which spent huge sums for the war, simply did not have the means to modernize Russia.

The coming reforms of Alexander II showed what Bunge Nikolai Khristianovich was mistaken about. A brief biography of the future minister is similar to the biography of many of his moderate liberal associates. The growth of the economy in the 60's. Would not have happened without major subsidies of the state. There was a lack of entrepreneurs in the country. Already in the 70-ies. Reaction began. The state again took up the total regulation of the economy. The issuance of railway concessions was stopped, the institutions of joint-stock companies were restrained, and high customs barriers were established. Taking into account all these features, Bunge Nikolai Khristianovich rewrote his program. A brief biography of this man and the evolution of his views are typical for that era.

Appointment by the Minister

On March 1, 1881, terrorists killed Alexander II, after which his son Alexander III came to power . The new tsar began to staff rotation in the government. It was then that in 1881 Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge was appointed to the post of Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire. The photo of the economist appeared in all the capital's newspapers. The public expected him to act.

For five years as the head of the financial department, Nikolai Bunge has carried out several major transformations. The state lowered the redemption payments for the peasants, rebuilt the tax system, transferring it to a new income base, and abolished the per capita tax. In 1882 the Peasant Bank was established. For several years, the first acts of working legislation were adopted.

Economic transformations

Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge, whose work was often criticized, initiated reforms that did not immediately bring positive changes to the Russian economy. The budget under this minister remained scarce, the Treasury could not get rid of debts, and so on. Nevertheless, the statesman Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge made a lot of useful things for his country. Thanks to its program, the Russian customs service was able to protect domestic producers from foreign competition, which led to a gradual growth of domestic business. Changes in taxation allowed the treasury to accumulate a significant financial base. Later, she went on to stimulate industrial growth.

Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge was born in the era of a strong ruble, when the national currency was not so connected with the external market as at the end of the XIX century. During the time of the economist's stay in the post of minister, the situation was radically different from those of the previous order. The government has done much to stabilize the ruble and move to the gold exchange rate standard. This reform was completed by Bunge's successor Sergei Witte.

Agrarian Policy

What did Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge do for the Russian peasantry? The Minister of Finance sought to develop a market economy in the village, which required private peasant land ownership. Bunge believed that state intervention should be minimal and boil down to defending the interests of the lower classes, who in many respects continued to live in disenfranchised position with respect to large and rich owners. The economist would be a "narodolyubtsem" not only because of his liberal views, but also because of pressing pragmatism. The minister's program was simple - to help the peasantry, so that it, having strengthened, helped to rise the country.

What exactly were the measures taken in the agrarian question by Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge? Photos of villages without modern equipment and infrastructure forced the minister to make serious reforms. He saved the rural population from unnecessary taxes, including tax on salt. The peasantry suffered from the shortage of land and the overpopulation of the central provinces. To solve this problem, a program was proposed for the resettlement of villagers to the vacant margins of the country, the natural conditions of which were perfectly suited for cultivating the land and growing the crop.

Labor legislation

The state's relations were not only complex with the peasants, but also with the workers. After the abolition of serfdom, a powerful stream of proletarians poured into the cities, seeking a better share in factories and other enterprises. Contrary to this, Russia has not yet had systematized factory legislation.

In 1884, at the initiative of Bunge, the work of minors in large enterprises was banned. The state has set the lower threshold - 12 years. Adolescents under the age of 15 could work no more than 8 hours a day. In 1885, the night work of women fell under the ban. The authorities adopted universal rules regulating the relations of the employer and the proletarians. These norms have made it possible to significantly restrict arbitrariness and the arbitrariness of the manufacturers. At the same time, reprisals against workers who took part in strikes and strikes increased. The execution of the rules was checked by a special state inspection.

Nationalization of railways

Minister of Finance Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge, whose date of birth coincided with the period of the appearance of railways in Russia, was well aware of their importance in the life of the country. During the years of his leadership of the economy of the empire, a full nationalization of this economy began. At the end of the nineteenth century, the railways were also "nationalized" in Belgium, Austria-Hungary, France, Holland, etc. In carrying out this reform, Bunge could focus on a similar Western experience.

Struggle against monopolies

Nationalization was necessary to fight against monopolists, who used this means of communication to be predatory. The society unanimously demanded that the authorities put an end to the disorganization of the railways. An interdepartmental commission was set up for this purpose. Officials of the Ministry of Finance played an important role in it. Bunge himself opposed the too hasty transfer of railways to the state. The minister regularly wrote memoranda, in which he explained his view of the problem. These projects were sent to the very top and were considered an autocrat.

After the collapse of the concession system, the state returned to the practice of building railways exclusively at public expense. Regarding the routes already commissioned, Bunge publicly spoke several times in approximately the same tone. He repeated his arguments shortly before his resignation. The Minister believed that Russia could not select the railways at a forced pace, as it was done, for example, in Germany, because there were not enough qualified specialists in the civil service.

Activity results

Assessing the results of the work of the Minister of Finance, it is important to understand that the Russian statesman Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge faced numerous obstacles on his way. He inherited a heavy inheritance from the war with the Ottoman Empire, the industrial crisis, crop failure, stagnation in agriculture, increased spending on the navy and the army.

The conservative opposition has always disliked the minister, who wanted to compromise with the liberal part of society. Confrontation lasted throughout Bunge's stay in the chair of the head of the financial department.

Retirement and further career

Opponents of the minister achieved his resignation in 1886. But the emperor understood who Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge was, and appreciated his qualities. Therefore, the economist not only did not fall into disgrace, but also remained in the State Council. Becoming head of the Committee of Ministers, he continued to influence the political course of power, although in a different capacity.

What did Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge seek? The facts from the life of the official indicate that he sought to stop the artificial support of the rural community, which caused damage to individual peasant farms. The economist was a supporter of the resettlement of the inhabitants of the village to the east. A new wave of mass peasant colonization of Siberia occurred after Nikolai Khristianovich Bunge died. The biographical sketch of this man is the story of the career of Stolypin's predecessor, who began the agrarian reform. Nikolay Bunge died on June 15, 1895 in Tsarskoye Selo.