Vol 29, No 2 (2018)

The article presents the calculation of multiplier effects in the modern economy of Russia. The output multipliers by different sectors of the economy have been estimated using a method based on a static input–output model. The article has analyzed the limitations and possibilities of applying a method of calculating the multiplier effects.

The persistent lack of a generally accepted scientific definition of city seriously hinders the implementation of sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations as universal strategic guidelines for world progress until 2030, including the sustainable development of cities and settlements. In connection with this, actual problems of defining city and megacity (megalopolis) have been analyzed. A system of integrated indicators of sustainable urban development with regard to the global level has been considered. Particular attention has been paid to the new task for Russia of adapting these indicators to domestic specific natural and socioeconomic conditions, with consideration of the long-term prospects.

The article shows that indicators of spatial distribution of employed and economic potential are becoming the key indicators of the economic development of Russia. It has been revealed that the localization of these resources determines the regional differentiation in labor productivity. Regression relationships between labor productivity, employment, urbanization parameters, agglomeration and localization have been determined. The forecast of regional localization of employment on macroregions of Russia has been carried out.

The paper presents the results of forecasting the dynamics of the depletion of conventional energy resources, including hydrocarbons (coal, oil, natural gas) and natural uranium, which currently form the mainstay of the energy supply of the economy. A balance model developed by the authors shows the dynamics of the growing shortage of exhaustible conventional energy resources after 2040 at various energy-consumption rates. For the time being, it is unclear which nonconventional primary energy sources are able to supply advanced commercially acceptable fast-growing energy systems (including capital investment) in order to equalize the rapidly growing primary energy shortages expected in the 1940s. The most advanced energy technology with almost unlimited resources that has reached the near-commercial stage of development can be nuclear fuel breeding.

The article assesses the influence of the import substitution policy on the industrial production level in the chemical and engineering industries. A program for the development of import substitution in these sectors until 2022 has been proposed based on scenario forecasting.

The paper has proposed an algorithm for the industry investment analysis based on the study of the generalized financial indicators of the telecommunications industry. The analysis has made it possible to evaluate key macroeconomic indicators of the economic activity of the industry, to comparatively evaluate the efficiency of its individual companies, and to determine their investment attractiveness.

The article has estimated the demographic and socioeconomic losses due to premature mortality from the primary classes of causes of death in the population of Russia and Vologda oblast. The eliminated reserves of mortality and years of potential life lost have been calculated to analyze the demographic damage. The per capita GDP and GRP data is involved in assessing the economic damage due to premature mortality in the population. It has been established that the most demographic and socioeconomic damage is endured due to the circulatory system diseases, external causes of death, and neoplasms. The patterns of losses from premature mortality displayed significant gender- and age-specific distinctions.

This paper presents an approach to assessing the efficacy of public spending on research and development in state programs. At present, there is a need to develop a unified approach to the analysis and evaluation of the efficacy of such spending from the perspective of participants in state programs (federal executive bodies). The proposed approach does not allow evaluating the efficacy of public spending on the development of research areas assigned to the authors.

The article considers the development of Islamic banking in Russia using the example of the Islamic financial organization Financial House Amal. Islamic investment treaties and tools used in Financial House Amal have been analyzed. The basic concepts and tasks of the Accounting and Audit Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) have been considered. The main conclusions on the introduction of Islamic finance in Russia have been proposed.

Materials of focus groups with employers who hire foreigners, in-depth interviews with labor migrants, and expert interviews with decision-makers, as well as statistical data, serve as groundwork for investigating the new migrant labor practices that have arisen from the radical restructuring of the migration legislation since early 2015 and those that remain since the economic crisis of 2008–2009 (the latter prevail). The conclusion has been drawn that employers are generally not ready to refrain from hiring labor migrants, despite the increased costs of migrant labor.