The article discusses the economic heritage of D.I. Mendeleev and his contribution to the formation of Russia’s socio-economic politics at the end of the XIX - beginning of the XX c., aimed at accelerated development of the national economy. Against the technological backwardness of Russia at the time, D.I. Mendeleev saw the politics of protectionism as one of the major factors of the country’s economic growth, and made a considerable contribution to the development of this politics. The author also discusses D.I. Mendeleev’s views on the issues of population, education, and the role of spirituality and morality in social life