No 5 (2023)

Within the framework of the generally accepted concept of the increasing role of materialized labor in productivity, a constant but slowing growth in the rate of labor productivity and a reduction in working hours, some paradoxes of labor productivity formed and developed in the past few decades. One of the paradoxical phenomena characteristic of industries with a traditionally high share of human labor is the increase in working hours due to additionally created jobs, assessed by D. Graeber as completely or partially meaningless (“bullshit”) labor. Such labor does not create value, but only participates in its redistribution in favor of the least valuable for society types of activity that, as a rule, serve the creation of a real product or socially significant service. This dynamic actualizes the problem of the relationship between productivity, duration and meaninglessness of labor, not only as socio-economic, but also cultural value. Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and the results of factor analysis using a mathematical correlation-regression apparatus, the indicated relationships in the performance dynamics of two sectors of the US economy over a long period of time were modeled. It was empirically confirmed that in the context of a long-term increase in labor productivity, leading to a general reduction in working hours, a contradiction with the ethical principle of “purchasing” labor by the employer is gradually forming and developing, leading to stagnation and a subsequent increase in working hours due to the creation and diversification of different forms of meaningless labor. It is shown that the increase in the cost of living labor, expressed, in particular, in the need to allocate additional working time for socially meaningless work, objectively slows down productivity in construction and healthcare in the United States.

The activities of the EU industrial alliances created in 2017-2023, as well as “important projects of common European interest” (IPCEIs) interacting with them are analyzed. The motives for their creation and the first results of their activities in the context of the socio-economic space of the European Union formed by Brussels within the framework of strategic (including industrial) autonomy are examined. Particular attention is paid to the role of Germany and France in the launch and evolution of the EU’s industrial policy. These countries consistently advocated increasing state support of “European champion companies” and their consolidation in the world’s leading economic niches. It is shown that the European Commission considers these alliances to be an important factor in maintaining and increasing the international competitiveness of the EU economic complex and its industrial ecosystems.

The characteristics of digital platforms are described. The analysis of the difficulties in applying traditional approaches to digital platforms is provided. The goal is to characterize and compare the existing and draft laws that will serve as the cornerstone of competition policy for digital platforms in the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia. The question of whether there are differences between Russian legislation regulating the activity of digital platforms and new foreign laws is answered.

Main current processes of the formation of the new transport and logistics interaction model on the territory of the Eurasian continent are discussed, as well as the main geopolitical and macroeconomic trends that have caused their accelerated formation. Gradual strengthening of all-around cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China as key powers on the modern political map of the world is studied. The activity of the Republic of Kazakhstan is considered through the prism of the emerging newest “pan-Eurasian” system of interstate logistics contacts.

The empirical study of migration attitudes among young people of Novosibirsk, its suburbs and regional remote rural settlements is conducted to reveal how widespread the sense of patriotism is among them, as well as their values and value orientations. Factors of the desire to leave not only their homes, but also their homeland, are determined. It is shown that social and economic reasons such as family income and quality of life in the settlement are not significant in making the decision to migrate. The main factor is the desire either to realize themselves in their profession (for a minority of respondents) or to carry out their dream of a “good life” inspired by social networks and bloggers. While residents of the villages seek their dreams in the megacity, its residents in large numbers intend to migrate to Western Europe or the United States, including for permanent residence. The pessimism of young people about the prospect of Russia becoming a great prosperous state is alarming.