Fiscal policy of the Ottoman government in the age of reforms (end of the Ottoman Empire)
Subject Areas : Journal of History (Tarikh)Ali Mirmohammadloo 1 , Nasrollah poor mohammadi amlashi 2 , Mohammad Taghi Emami Khoei 3 , Mojtaba khalifeh 4
1 - Department of History and Civilization of Islamic Nations - Faculty of Humanities - Takestan Branch of Azad University - Iran
2 - Ghazvin emam khomeini international university
3 - Shahid Beheshti University-Tehran-Iran
4 - Birjand University - Birjand - Iran
Keywords: Ottoman government, Abodlhamid II, Financial reforms, Young Turks, Economy,
Abstract :
Ottoman Empire faced various challenges to survive and improve its economic situation in its last years of existence. The old financial wounds of the Adjustment Period and the years of Abdolhamid II’s reign which were rooted in previous centuries when the European counties were becoming the world’s economic powers. In this particular juncture, when The Ottoman Empire was suffering from financial problems and economic recession. In order to solve the problems, they resorted to external and internal solutions. The economic policy of the Adjustment Period was based on giving economic privileges to colonial countries. Not only was little progress made, but it led to financial crises, famine, foreign counties’ meddling and interference in domestic affairs. Since the government's policy was to grant concessions to foreign governments, the Ottoman markets were opened to foreign goods and foreign trade increased greatly, but government revenues declined due to reduced customs duties and the elimination contractors’ taxation. On the other hand, the financial problems caused as a result of the war made Th Ottoman government to borrow from foreign resources. During the Adjustment Period, preferring the European products over domestic products and granting concessions to foreigners weakened the domestic production, led to the bankruptcy of merchants, and an industrial crisis. The financial crisis and the consequent economic crisis which left the Ottoman Empire with no choice but to borrow from foreign resources was one of the major reasons of the downfall of The Ottoman Empire. Keywords: Ottoman government, Abodlhamid II, Adjustment, Young Turks, Economy
