Modernization of S.Yu. Witte: reflection in today's day

The subject of the article is a comparative analysis of monetary policy measures in terms of modernization, carried out in the late XIX century by the Minister of Finance of the Russian Empire S.Yu. Witte, and reforms in the field of fiscal sphere, currently being implemented by the Government and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. Based on the idea of cyclical nature of history, the author concludes that, despite the significant time gap between the phenomena can identify not only similarities, but also to identify problem areas that can be overcome through further in-depth theoretical study of the period, causes, essence and consequences of ongoing modernization. At the same time, it is noted that the reforms undertaken in the late XIX - early XX centuries by S.Yu. Witte were carried out in the context of a radical transformation of the world order, which correlates in all aspects with modern conditions. Meanwhile, it is taken into account that there is a major difference between these processes due to the specifics of the stages of social development.