economics

• who started as the finance minister

  serge witte continues from Alex III
• who becomes finance minister after witte

  Pyotr Stolypin
• too dependent on foreign investment
• the railway opened up the eastern empire and advanced the growth of new towns and cities
• the railway exploited natural resources better
• state bought railway companies started in 1891
• a new railway linked the oil refineries of Baku to the black sea port of Batum which helped stimulate the growth of iron and coal industries
• the trans-siberian railway was built to encourage migration to areas where workers were needed but by 1914 it was only partially finished and didn't increase migration much
• rapid expansion of cities since large-scale manufacture attracted people seeking employment
• poor working conditions and overcrowding in cities