Economic relations between Russia and Finland in the late XIX – beginning of XX centuries

Introduction. This article examines the economic development of Finland in the late 19th – early 20th centuries and the impact on this process of the growing crisis in relations between the Russian Empire and the Grand Duchy of Finland after Emperor Nicholas II came to power. Materials and methods. This article is written within the framework of an interdisciplinary approach using scientific approaches of historical science and economics. Analysis. In the last third of the 19th century, the national economy of Finland achieved significant results in its development. The article emphasizes that Russian capital played an important role in this process, especially in the creation of heavy industry enterprises. By the beginning of the 20th century, due to changes in the economic situation, the role of Russian capital in the industrial development of the principality was declining, which was partly due to the policy of limiting the acquisition of Finnish citizenship by Russians. The material emphasizes the importance of the Russian domestic market for the industry of the principality, especially pulp and paper. At the same time, the author emphasizes the growing role of Germany and Great Britain in Finland's foreign trade, which caused concern among the ruling circles of Russia. The desire to limit Finland's autonomy, in the opinion of Russian conservatives and some representatives of the ruling class, was bound to affect the economic sphere. First of all, this policy affected the railways connecting Russia and Finland, means of communication, and the pilot service. The material notes the special role of the customs autonomy of the principality in its economic development, including the introduction of protectionist duties and other restrictions on trade between Russia and Finland. In St. Petersburg, there was no complete unity of opinion regarding the liquidation of the customs autonomy of the principality, since many representatives of the country's trade and industrial circles and representatives of the state apparatus feared that the influx of goods from Finland could negatively affect the development of a number of sectors of the Russian national economy. Results. By 1914, the Grand Duchy of Finland had achieved significant results in the development of industry, transport infrastructure, and means of communication. Russia contributed to the achievements of the Finnish economy. Initially, Russian capital occupied important positions in the country's economy, but then its role significantly decreased. With Russia's dominance in Finland's foreign trade, its share gradually began to decline, in favor of Germany, Great Britain and other European countries.