The development of insurance in the Russian Empire: financial and legal aspect (late 18th – 19th centuries)

This article examines the development of the insurance industry in the Russian Empire from the perspective of its systemic legal regulation. The study period spans from the late 18th century to the entire 19th century. Accordingly, the financial and legal acts regulating insurance relations in Russia during the historical period under consideration are analyzed ("On the Establishment of the State Loan Bank", 1786, "On the Establishment of an Insurance Expedition under the State Loan Bank for the Acceptance of Stone Houses, Factories and Plants", 1786, "On the Introduction of Mutual Insurance against Fire of Property in Cities, Towns and Villages of the Empire", 1861, etc.), as well as scientific works on the stated topic. It is noted that the introduction of insurance was conditioned by the objective course of economic development (accordingly, insurance initially concerned property), and at the end of the 18th century in Russia, with some delay in time from European countries, corresponding decisions were also made. Subsequently, this institution actively developed in the 19th century and by the end of that century received systemic financial and legal regulation. At the same time, personal insurance in Russia lagged significantly behind economic insurance, as did insurance for industrial workers, which only began to be implemented in the early 20th century.