POSOSHKOV, IVAN TIKHONOVICH (1652–1726), Russian social thinker. Born in the village of Pokrovskoye, Moscow province, into a peasant family. Early on he showed versatile economic abilities and business qualities. Successfully engaged in business in Novgorod. From 1697 he was a member of the “Scientific Squad” of Peter I. He prepared a number of economic projects: On money matters, On new beginnings of money, etc. His main work was the Book on Poverty and Wealth (1724), after the publication of which Pososhkov was arrested (1725). Pososhkov died in St. Petersburg in the Peter and Paul Fortress on February 1, 1726. In his book and in other writings, Pososhkov argued that for normal socio-economic development and material well-being, Russia needs an even distribution of social wealth, and the establishment of equality of economic opportunities for different classes. He especially highly appreciated the social significance of the merchant class, arguing that without the trading class, no “kingdom could exist.” The central role in society should be played by the monarchical state and the monarch himself, who has every opportunity to achieve the “common good” of all classes. Pososhkov was a supporter of public education (primarily the spread of literacy) and the easing of the burdens of serfdom, and advocated radical judicial reform. All these transformations, according to Pososhkov, can and should be consistent with the principles of Orthodox morality, based on the foundation of Christian theology and church tradition (“The Priesthood is the pillar and affirmation of all human salvation”).