Vol 30, No 1 (2019)

This article analyzes the causes of insufficient economic growth in Russia in 2014–2018. It is concluded that an immediate increase is required in fixed capital and human capital investment. A detailed analysis is given of new sources of economic growth and possible pathways of change in financial policy aimed at accelerating economic growth in Russia.

Technological integration is considered as an effective measure to increase the technological performance of Russian industrial companies and improve their adaptation to a system of industrial and economic relations based on digital technology. Common issues related to integration of new technologies are identified for Russian regions, emphasizing the importance of cluster-type economic relations. A current state evaluation and a development forecast are given for petrochemical clusters. To improve technological performance, it is proposed to use technological integration as a process of transforming production resource flows into new technologies. The experience in technology advancement accumulated by world science has been investigated and summarized. It is shown that the Russian economy is on the right path to a new technological paradigm.

The article considers the consequences of various price decision scenarios to promote investments in the technological renewal of the Russian thermal power industry. It is shown that in the context of the balance of interests of the industry and consumers, flexible control of the marginal price level in a competitive capacity market and its segmentation with allowance for the expected growth of gross revenue in the thermal power industry is preferable to the transition to marginal pricing for electricity and power based on the economic return from new power plants.

This paper analyses the Russian chemical industry in respect of the problems and prospects for the implementation of the state strategic objectives in the field of innovative development. The external and internal conditions for the scientific and technological development of the Russian chemical industry are identified. The main promising areas for the transformation of the Russian chemical industry aimed at boosting the country’s competitiveness are determined.

The paper analyzes the current state of the retail network in the Russian Federation, such as: its place in the economic structure, the presence and geographical location of retail outlets, their specific structure, the size of retail space including modern formats, the distribution of chain retail and distance selling, employment and wages. Shortcomings of state retail regulation and the potential for the development of the economic sector are discussed.

The article provides insight into the changes in type of relations to land ownership in agricultural production in post-Soviet Russia. The main and most problematic process was the privatization of these lands, which has resulted in a situation where a significant part of the land belongs to citizens (they became owners of land shares) but is used by agricultural organizations. The results of privatization were generally positive, although many of the expectations that were initially associated with it did not materialize. In the near future, the most significant event in this area is going to be the final solution to the problem of unclaimed land shares.

The article discusses the concentration of the insurance market in Russia, its influence on the state of insurance in the country and regions. The indicators of the concentration of the insurance market, including by types of insurance, are analyzed, the factors of their changes in the period of 2014–2018 are specified. Predictive estimates of the concentration of the insurance business on the basis of identified trends are given.

Based on the survey of the employed population of the Vologda oblast for 2016, a regression model was constructed that reflects the relationship between job satisfaction and the parameters characterizing job stability, fairness of labor remuneration in relation to labor contribution, and availability of additional guarantees. The research results indicate that the main factor affecting job satisfaction is the material factor.

This paper assesses the role of migration in forming the population of Moscow, Moscow oblast, St. Petersburg, and Leningrad oblast over the 22-year period between the censuses of 1989 and 2010. Data of the censuses and current vital statistics are used they are deemed more reliable than current migration statistics. Using indirect methods, the dynamics of age-sex structures, population aging, and the contribution of migrants to birth rates are estimated. It is shown that the specifics of migration in the main Russian megalopolises consist in a positive migration balance across almost all ages; shifts in the age structure occur in favor of the younger age groups of the able-bodied population, compensating for the effects of aging.

The integration of agri-food markets in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is analyzed. The results of scenario forecasts for meat, milk, grain, oilseed, vegetable oil and sugar exports in EAEU member states are presented.