No 4 (2025)

At present, objective economic laws manifest themselves somewhat differently than in the earlier period of the spontaneous market. With the growth of public consciousness, communities and individuals increasingly act on the basis of ethical norms, rather than immediate personal gain in their social interactions. The importance of scientific knowledge has also grown, influencing the activities of businessmen and the state, which tends to interfere in economic life. A huge public non-profit sector has emerged, developing not according to market criteria, but according to other patterns. The article attempts to identify some of these patterns and trace how economic practices in Russia correspond to them.

The article analyzes the knowledge management practices of Russian consulting companies to ensure the sustainability of their intellectual capital in the context of withdrawal from global networks of international business. The research is based on official statistics reports, and interviews with managers of Russian consulting companies. After international consulting companies left the Russian market, their Russian divisions continued business activities as a reorganized firm, partially retaining their human and social capital. To compensate for the lost access to international knowledge bases and competence centres, the development of absorptive capacity helps. We confirmed the preservation of critical elements of absorptive capacity for knowledge management in Russian consulting companies, and identified priority areas for the development of intellectual capital - acquisition and mastering of knowledge.

The article is devoted to the current issue of economic inequality and poverty in Russia in global context. The author explores the theoretical and methodological aspects of economic inequality, analyzes modern research and approaches to measuring it. Based on an analysis of key statistical indicators, the article identifies the main factors that influence the heterogeneous dynamics of inequality and poverty in Russia between 1992 and 2023. Particular attention is paid to international comparisons, which allow assessing Russia’s position in the global context. It is noted that, despite the decline in poverty in recent years, the problem of income inequality still causes serious concern in many countries, including Russia. International comparisons show that the level of inequality and poverty in Russia is higher than in a number of European and post-Soviet countries, but significantly lower than the maximum global values. The authors also highlight differences in national and international approaches to measuring inequality and poverty, which is significant when assessing Russia’s standing in the global context. It is noted that reducing inequality and poverty in Russia requires additional efforts, which include developing human capital, modernizing existing industries and creating new high-tech sectors, as well as reducing low-paid employment, and expanding social programs.

The article considers young people’s views on marriage and their attitude to family values. Statistical data and views of sociologists on the formation of family relations in different periods of time are analyzed. The reasons for marriage and childbearing are presented. Currently, much attention is paid to governmental support of young families. The state of modern Russian society is directly related to the preservation of the social institution of the family and family values, and the strengthening of family relationships of the younger generation.

The article examines current issues of economic cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan taking into account the influence of the present-day geopolitical situation on its multi-vector foreign policy. Kazakhstan plays an important role in the Central Asian region, is a member of the EAEU and other organizations with the participation of Russia, an important trading partner of Russia in the post-Soviet space. Maintaining close ties and economic integration with Kazakhstan is of great strategic importance for the Russian economy. The article scrutinizes the transformation of Kazakhstan’s foreign economic strategy and presents the reasons for strengthening the multi-vector nature of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. The change in cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in the context of increasing sanctions pressure on the Russian economy is analyzed. Kazakhstan’s role in reorienting Russia’s trade flows during 2022–2024, as well as changes in its foreign economic policy as external pressure from Western countries and threats of secondary sanctions increase are examined.