Vol 30, No 4 (2019)

The article aims to reconstruct and analyze the development trends of the Russian high-tech complex in 2011–2017. The main goal is to assess the development potential of the high-tech complex in 2018–2020 taking into consideration the state defense order financing, export supplies of weapons and military equipment, as well as civil output of the defense and nuclear industries. The findings showed that until 2014 the growth rates of the defense complex approximately correspond to official data, whereas in 2016–2017 there was a turnaround as in some subsectors the real growth was significantly lower than expected. It enables us to predict that the preservation of the current economic policy in the field of defense and security may lead to a reduction in the high-tech complex output from 2020. Meanwhile, it appears that at the moment there are no macroeconomic limitations that would hinder the positive dynamics continuation of the high-tech complex development provided changes in economic policy.

This paper attempts to systematize factors of the fall in the global oil price in 2014 and discusses potential trajectories of its further dynamics. Examining the effects of supply and demand on the market, similarities are drawn with the fall in the oil price in 1986.

The paper analyzes trends and prospects of the global and Russian air transport services (ATS) market. The characteristic features of modern processes in the ATS market are noted. In particular, the increased concentration in transportation and ground handling services, which led to the adoption of the hub model by the industry, and the emergence of a unified global system of air services. The place of Russia in this system, the causes and consequences of lagging behind global trends, and the development strategies of the domestic air services market, which contribute to its integration into global processes, are presented.

The article provides an assessment of the expected changes in the location of agricultural sectors affected by possible climate change, which is simulated by the displacement of natural and agricultural zones within production frontiers of Federal subjects. The spatial distribution of resources, efficiency of agricultural production, transport flows, demand and comparative competitive positions of individual sectors of agriculture are taken into account.

The article analyzes the draft budget of Russia for 2019–2021 from the standpoint of the implementation of the commitments of the authorities in the social sphere. The indicators of the projected growth of personal incomes of the population and branches of socially significant services are considered. Comparisons are made of the current level of development of the social sector in Russia and in developed countries. The data of the consolidated budget are given, which, unlike the federal budget, includes extrabudgetary funds (Pension, Social Insurance, Medical) and social expenditures of the regions—the latter envisage the main expenditures on education and health care—the most important branches of social services.

The article considers topical economic aspects of the development of the housing market as a sector of the national economy and complex socioeconomic system, specifically, financial mechanism of economic reproduction (formation of effective demand) in the housing market; expansion of economic and legal definitions of housing commissioning, improvement in housing conditions, and acquisition of dwelling, and the impact that dynamics of return on urban residential development has on sustainability of market functioning. Inferences and suggestions are formulated with respect to attainability of the national goal of an improvement in the housing situation of at least five million families annually, which was established by the May decree (ukase) of the President of the Russian Federation.

The article reviews methods and approaches applied to reduce uninhabitable (decrepit and dilapidated) housing stock. It points out a gap in practice with respect to forecasting a transition of housing to a category of decrepit and dilapidated and justifies a necessity to implement the novel integrated approach.

In the article, the theoretical and methodological aspects of investigation of the territories’ budget potential have been systematized. The methodology of comparative assessment of municipal entities’ budget potential has been developed, their ranking on the base of an integral index has been carried out, and a comprehensive assessment of the territories’ potential has been obtained. The assessment of the budget potential of municipalities has been carried out on the basis of the developed methodology on the example of Vologda oblast. The model of financial support for the functioning of a settlement network with due consideration of the level of budget potential of municipal raions has been justified.

The article discusses the conceptual framework for forestry policy. Monitoring of indicators of the forestry sector of the Republic of Mari El, rates of natural and artificial reforestation, foci of forest destruction with fires, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, etc., are presented. General principles and main directions of development of the forest industry are presented.

The feasibility of the state-posed task of export expansion is assessed. An increase in noncommodity nonenergy exports is considered in terms of calculation methodology, price factors, demand, supply, and the available transportation infrastructure. It has been established that the cost indicator of exports limits economic policy options and strengthens dependences between its components. It is necessary to change the makeup of industrial development in the next two-to-three years.