The article provides an overview of the works of the researchers of the Institute of History of St. Petersburg University, written in 2018-2019, on the history of economic policy on the outskirts of the Russian Empire under the reign of Nicholas II. New economic realities, increasing external threat, aggravation of internal social conflict forced the highest bureaucracy to constantly adjust its policy on the outskirts of the Russian Empire, looking for ways to solve pressing regional problems. The researchers have shown by concrete examples that the main factors that weakened the effectiveness of the decisions of the government in Central Asia, the Caucasian viceroyalty and the western provinces were inconsistent policies towards the indigenous population. In the Far East, there was a greater lack of professionals and logistical resources in the local administration. The lack of funding exacerbated the problems, but was not a determining factor in political and economic decision-making.