... whereas its rivals, namely Germany and Britain, already had. In economic terms the government saw a number of ways in which industrialisation was necessary. They found a need to develop their own resources instead of relying on foreign imports, saw how agricultural depression illustrated the need for alternative sources of income, and railways were seen to be a high priority as they were vital to organise resources. Overall the government saw that an economic advance would lead to increased wealth, and thus greater potential government revenue. The need for industrialisation was clearly vital for the Russian government; however it did face certain practical difficulties and problems which hindered the acceleration of industrial development. There was an inefficient domestic agricultural system which, coupled with the depression in agricultural prices in 1879 and the move towards protectionism in Europe, led to "a re-think in the Ministry of Finance which...had practised free trade policies". ...

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