Fiscal and Tax Policy of Bogd Khanate of Mongolia (1911–1919)

Abstract

Abstract As a result of the prolonged struggle for national independence, the Mongolian people, who endured over two centuries of oppression under Manchurian rule, regained sovereignty in 1911 and established the Republic of Mongolia. During this period, significant economic, social, and political reforms were initiated, laying the groundwork for the national financial system. This article examines the social, political, and economic landscape during the Bogd Khanate of Mongolia. Research into the tax and financial policies implemented during this period was conducted using historical documents and sources. Within the framework of Mongolian governmental financial policies, five ministries were established, accompanied by the enactment and implementation of various regulations about finance, taxation, and customs. Efforts were made to enhance state revenue; however, the accumulation of debt owed to foreign moneylenders and merchants, coupled with the taxation burden on Mongolian citizens, including payments to domestic nobles and religious institutions, exacerbated poverty and economic hardship among the populace. In June 1915, the autonomy of Mongolia, as stipulated in the treaty between Russia, Mongolia, and China, was abolished in 1919, resulting in the reassertion of foreign control over Mongolian governance.