North-West Institute of Management

The article defines the concept of the information society, considers the strategy of the development of the information society in the Russian Federation. In the main part, the state of the development of the information society in the Russian Federation was studied using international indices: the ICT development index, the network readiness index (NRI), the e-government development index (EGDI), the knowledge economy index. A cluster analysis of the state of the information society as a whole was also conducted. The conclusions give recommendations on the improvement of the system of indicators, the mechanism of working with it, and documents clarifying the Strategy for the Development of the Information Society in the Russian Federation for 2017-2030. This will allow increasing the values of individual ratings, as well as the common place of Russia in a single information space.

Renewable energy sources (RES) are gradually becoming one of the key elements in the process of achieving energy efficiency worldwide. This trend can be observed in many developed Western economies—for example, in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom. Hence, the role of innovative policies for promoting energy efficiency is becoming crucial in transition to the post-carbon economy. The shift to the carbon-free future make all actors to face forgoing commitments Nevertheless, customers and residential households are the first and the most important players in the pursuit of the energy-efficient future. Without them, carbon-free economy based on RES would never take the shape as envisaged. Our paper focuses on the innovative strategies and policies studying the effect and the scope of RES penetration into the households. We employ and empirical analysis of the effects from using RES in households using an example of the residential households in the northwest region of the United Kingdom (UK) with and without solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and electric vehicles (EV). We analyse the four scenarios that are aimed at analysing the system dynamics and providing differentiation between systems in terms of the varying values of the gross demand, tariffs, metered import, and the total revenue. Our results demonstrate that the solar PV leads to the transfer of costs and wealth regardless of the ownership of PV and EVs. Solar energy generation reduces the share of UK solar PV households per kWh costs of the distribution system which causes the augmenting of the per unit charges as well as to the changes in payments for the electricity that impoverishes less wealthy customer groups. It also becomes clear that with the increase of EV penetration, the existing energy efficiency schemes would have to be revised.

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the Strategy of socio-economic development of the Republic of Karelia determines the priority directions, goals (strategic), key tasks, and general measures for the long-term development of the Republic of Karelia.The study purpose was a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the emergence and subsequent justification of the concepts and systems of legal structures that characterize the Strategy.The regulatory framework of the study was as follows: The Constitution of the Russian Federation, Decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, Resolutions and Orders of the Government of the Russian Federation, Orders of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Laws of the Republic of Karelia, Orders of the Government of the Republic of Karelia.The conclusions of this study expand and deepen the knowledge in the field of coverage of problems related to the implementation of the Strategy.The materials of the article are intended for scientists, specialists and students studying issues and problems of the legal development of the regions of the Russian Federation.

Abstract Aim Climatic changes during the Late Pleistocene had major impacts on populations of plant and animal species. Brown bears and other large mammals are likely to have experienced analogous ecological pressures and phylogeographical processes. Here, we address several unresolved issues regarding the Late Pleistocene demography of brown bears: (1) the putative locations of refugia; (2) the direction of migrations across Eurasia and into North America; and (3) parallels with the demographic histories of other wild mammals and modern humans. Location Eurasia and North America. Methods We sequenced 110 complete mitochondrial genomes from Eurasian brown bears and combined these with published sequences from 138 brown bears and 33 polar bears. We used a Bayesian approach to obtain a joint estimate of the phylogeny and evolutionary divergence times. The inferred mutation rate was compared with estimates obtained using two additional methods. Results Bayesian phylogenetic analysis identified seven clades of brown bears, with most individuals belonging to a very large Holarctic clade. Bears from the widespread clade 3a1, which has a distribution from Europe across Asia to Alaska, shared a common ancestor about 45,000 years ago. Main conclusions We suggest that the Altai‐Sayan region and Beringia were important Late Pleistocene refuge areas for brown bears and propose large‐scale migration scenarios for bears in Eurasia and to North America. We also argue that brown bears and modern humans experienced a demographic standstill in Beringia before colonizing North America.

This study is based on the observation that the theoretical literature examining how government can improve the efficiency of its communication with business audiences has paid only limited attention to the technical (or formal) organization of the communicative process. The paper presents a quantitative analysis of the effectiveness of the use of different communication channels and of the use of multi-channel communication strategies. In doing so, it introduces the concept of “communicative result” as the criteria for measuring efficiency. It further compares the technical parameters of different channels in terms of their reliability, speed, and effectiveness. It considers the impact of cultural factors on the efficiency of communication channels. It presents a data-driven framework for evaluating and developing efficient government communication channels within specific national, cultural conditions. Using the data collected in Russia, the paper presents how the most widely used government communication channels for voluntary, inter-active communication with business audiences actually work in practice. The empirical research draws from 1,065 individual government uses of specific channels to reach small, medium and large-scale business. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variation (ANOVA) and correlation analysis of channel complementarity and effectiveness. The study also explores the patterns of use of channels by businesses characterized as having different levels of innovation status and as operating with different levels of oversight or regulation by government. Utilizing the overall theoretical framework and the specific information provided from studies in Russia, the paper presents some specific characteristics of the use of communication channels by Russian business, as well as a number of internationally relevant issues. It finds that: (1) Personal contact, either directly or through known intermediary acquaintances is the most efficient means of communicating with Russian business. (2) The smaller the number of steps in the communication chain, the quicker the response achieved. (3) Use of “mediated contact” is more important in reaching most types of businesses in Russia that in other countries. (4) Government organizations need to select the proper composition of various communication channels to achieve the most efficient results. (5) Just as in the study of any other communication, consolidation of the technical characteristics of communication channels and empirical data should be used to review the efficiency of government and business interactive communications.

Strategizing is a dynamically developing trend of contemporary research and an autonomous branch of economic knowledge in the professional sphere. The methodological basis of the research in this field is the study of Vladimir L. Kvint and his scientific school of strategizing. The theory and practice of strategizing are the focal point of the representatives of this scientific school. Development of a strategy starts with analyzing forecasts and examining the inner and the outer environment of the object of strategizing. The peculiar feature of strategizing methodology is applying of the OTSW-analysis method. Strategizing methodology involves strategic systematization, categorization and classification of national and regional objects of strategizing. Strategizing of new regions and objects requires research in national and regional strategies, scientific and innovative, economic and financial, environmental strategies of economic sectors (sectoral, educational, cultural), corporate strategies. The rapidly developing branch of economic studies requires new approaches to teaching theory and practice of strategizing to schoolchildren, bachelor students, master students and postgraduates as well as to young researchers. Development of theory and methodology of strategizing establishes new effective approaches to managerial decision-making, transforms classical methods of economic analysis. Methodology of strategizing has proved to be extremely successful and useful in many countries when applied for developing and modernizing national, regional and corporate strategies.

Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union is based on the recognition that Europe's oceans and seas are interlinked, and that sea-related policies of the European States must develop in a joined-up way in order to reap the desired results. While the law of the sea stands for the openness of high seas to all States,the European Union in last ten years, acting with understanding thatEurope's maritime spaces and its coasts are central issue to its well-being and prosperity, is making permanent efforts aimed on creation of legal regulations that would provide political conditions for the sustainable development of the maritime infrastructure of theEuropean Union.

This paper contributes to the discussion of links between sports, nationalism, and globalization by focusing on the political aspects of the preparation of Russian national teams for sports mega-events staged in Russia. By analyzing the cases of the XXVII Summer Universiade in Kazan, the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, and the XXI FIFA World Cup scheduled to take place in 12 Russian cities, the paper provides a comparative study of the benefits that mega-events provide for the host nation in terms of building national identities. To involve the sports component in the study of the nation-building processes, the paper applies the concept of the “spillover effect” of sporting nationalism which presumes that nationalist sentiment or ideology configured and promoted through sports affects non-sporting political processes, actors, and institutions. The paper argues that the “spillover effect” of sporting nationalism allows for the converting of excellence in sports mega-events – the centerpiece of global sports – into political excellence and displays the strengths of the nation to both the global and domestic public. Therefore, showing excellence as the host nation is the main objective that Russian political actors pursue in both their rhetoric and course of action.

The aim of this research is to investigate the core principles and possibilities of using digital twin technology for the development of Russia’s industrial sectors, taking into account the international experience. Theoretical and methodologic

Abstract The Arctic currently holds a prominent place in global policy. It is a sparsely populated region experiencing major consequences of global change, such as climate change, shifting demographics, and globalization. These substantial and rapid changes create both opportunities and risks for economic development. Informed policy‐making for sustainable development in the Arctic will require an understanding of the specific structures of arctic economies, with a focus on the existence of mixed economies that contain both subsistence and market aspects, the interplay among different economic systems, and the broader contexts in which they function. This paper presents a conceptual framework that allows for comparative analysis of arctic economies within their institutional, social, cultural, and environmental contexts. Utilization of the conceptual framework will enable more complete system‐level analyses by helping to describe the complex relationships among apparently disparate parts of the Arctic's diverse economic systems. The framework can be used across the social and natural sciences, practice, and policy‐making. Furthermore, this framework is applicable to regions outside of the Arctic that also have distinct mixed subsistence and market economies.

The governance of extractive industries has become increasingly globalized. International conventions and multi-stakeholder institutions set out rules and standards on a range of issues, such as environmental protection, human rights, and Indigenous rights. Companies’ compliance with these global rules may minimize risks for investors and shareholders, while offering people at sites of extraction more leverage. Although the Russian state retains a significant stake in the oil and gas industries, Russian oil and gas companies have globalized as well, receiving foreign investment, participating in global supply chains, and signing on to global agreements. We investigate how this global engagement has affected Nenets Indigenous communities in Yamal, an oil- and gas-rich region in the Russian Arctic, by analyzing Indigenous protests and benefit-sharing arrangements. Contrary to expectations, we find that Nenets Indigenous communities have not been empowered by international governance measures, and also struggle to use domestic laws to resolve problems. In Russia, the state continues to play a significant role in determining outcomes for Indigenous communities, in part by working with Indigenous associations that are state allies. We conclude that governance generating networks in the region are under-developed.

The optimal market structure is one of the fundamental issues of economic theory. At that, companies' efficiency in the market is associated with resource availability as a whole and finance resources, in particular. The structure of the banking market in terms of commercial loans determines a number of parameters of the economic system, such as its stability, growth potential, entrepreneurial activity, the state of commodity markets, the competitiveness of companies, etc. A comparative analysis of countries in terms of the ratio of commercial loans to GDP allows us to identify promising markets and strategic avenues for the development of the global banking industry and investment policy. However, a lack of regular and timely statistical reviews often impedes the identification. With the view to performing a comparative analysis for the EA/U macroregion, the authors attempt to establish the types of the banking market in Russia based on a fuzzy rank approach using the probability theory. Using the data for 2009-2018, the authors assess bank concentration in Russia by a number of indicators. During the period under review, the volume of commercial banking lending in Russia experienced a steady increase. At the same time, there is a clear downward trend in the number of banks; several local "breakdowns" happen once every two years, i.e. the compression rate is reducing. Within the framework of the accepted gradation, the values of concentration indices taken separately do not allow arriving at a firm conclusion, since they indicate contradictory statuses of the sectoral market type. The integrated approach proposed in the paper helped find that, despite a relatively large number of participants in the Russian banking market, it should be primarily identified with a monopoly. At that, the values of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) and standard concentration fall within the oligopoly boundaries. This indicates the fuzzy nature of the sectoral market. The empirical results obtained are of use when analyzing competition, developing antimonopoly regulation measures, adjusting the banking sector development strategy and investment policy.

Purpose To compare Russian and Ukrainian central governments' reaction to the pandemic, reflected in extraordinary budgetary allocations and to provide our understanding of how those allocations can be attributed to the two countries’ different social, economic and political contexts. Design/methodology/approach The paper is built on secondary data analysis over a six-month period, i.e. January–June 2020, during which the real-time events were documented in a research diary. The data sources included budgetary and other relevant legislature, official reports from international agencies, news, press conferences and videos of interviews with key stakeholders. Findings The findings showed that uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and the corresponding lockdown policies in Russia and Ukraine have produced two divergent patterns of budgetary allocations: step-by-step budgetary allocations in Russia vs one emergency budget decision in Ukraine. Originality/value The paper explains the divergence of the central governments' budgetary decisions based on the same lockdown policy, in light of the different ideological and financial legitimized action spaces that frame governmental decisions.

This study is dedicated to the interaction between oil and gas companies and local communities that depend deeply on the production of oil. One of the key concerns of all oil-dependent communities is the distribution of oil rent: Who participates in decision making regarding the distribution of oil profits and who can claim the benefits and on what grounds? Benefit sharing arrangements are used to decide such matters in global practice. Using Russian Arctic and subarctic areas as examples, we analyze the main rules and practices of the distribution of benefits from oil production at the local level. This study focuses on the coexistence of oil companies and indigenous people, many of whom practice a traditional way of life. We also pay attention to the institutionalization of the norms and rules of oil-dependent communities at the local level.

The transformation of Russian graduate school into the third stage of higher education hasn’t increased its effectiveness. The number of theses and graduate students has decreased. The interest of young people in science declines and well as the prestige of scientific activity. Graduate school does not fulfill its primary function as a social institution. It does not ensure the reproduction of research and pedagogical staff in Russia. The purpose of entering graduate school is far from writing a thesis. Hence, the review of the ways and methods of reforming the system of graduate school is necessary. The aim of the study is to analyze the negative consequences of turning graduate school into a higher education level and to develop practical recommendations to minimize these consequences. Research methods: analysis of statistical and sociological data, materials of scientific periodicals, including the articles about preparation of graduate students in other countries. The results of this study. The author structures the factors that generate the above situation and formulates three possible scenarios/alternatives for the development of Russian graduate school, which are “Targeted Support”, “Western Model”, “One Graduate School – Two Trajectories”. The first is formulated as a zero alternative, the “Western Model” – as a radical one. The scenario “One Graduate School – Two Trajectories” is considered as a prior alternative. Perhaps, the scenario will be able to solve the problem of graduate school in current conditions. This alternative suggests that the pedagogical (professional) degree is introduced in addition to the scientific degree in graduate school. Graduate school remains the level of higher education, but at the same time is divided into research branch and pedagogical one. Accordingly, two types of educational programs are required to be created. They should be oriented on different sets of competencies and give different results. This scenario is considered as a temporary measure. It will allow educational institutions of higher education not to lose graduate school as such, especially at those universities where programs of social and humanities branches are implemented. In addition, it will allow to individualize the educational trajectories of graduate students, because it takes into account the capabilities and the inclinations of graduate students. In conclusion, the author presents the practical recommendations that allow this scenario to be implemented.

This article examines changes in food security conditions in Russia following the introduction of general and commodity-specific embargo. While the physical availability of food increased with growth in agricultural production, the effect was offset by a decline in imports. Consumer prices rose due to reduced economic availability of meat and milk. Food insecurity in Russia is caused by increasing prices. There is no import dependence as measured by the division of food import by a total merchandise export. We have discovered that increasing food prices in the Russian Federation during the 2013-2015 periods affected not only products placed under embargo, but as much other commodity groups. Embargos were imposed on goods whose prices were less likely to rise. At the same time, similar food produced in Russia was not competitive on the world market. Therefore, import substitution of this kind necessarily led to decline in the quality of food and a reduction of food security. In our opinion, fish and apples aren't a suitable object for sanctions unlike some other goods such as eggs or flour.

Current demographic composition of labor resources in Russia, as well as increase of retirement age, legislatively set by government, encourage investigation of staff potential usage in regard of population age characteristics and identification of rational ways of employment for specialists in social production. Contemporary scientific editions devoted to sociology and economy are discussing actively problems of retirement age increasing and ways of involvement of elderly people into social life not only in metropolises, but also, in peripheral parts of the country. In the article, analysis of results of sociological survey, devoted to communicative skills of elderly, is made. Survey of “working» and “nonworking” retirees, concerned their live values, life guidance and communicative skill components. Taking into consideration two social groups, “working” and “non-working” old people, aims sociological elaborations on both directions.

The economy of impressions in which the new level of interaction is formed between brands and target audiences gaining particular importance in new market reality. The company in a service sector, including higher education institutions, becomes the provider of “impressions” under these conditions. Impression economy includes art collaboration methods and tools in which different brands take an active part. Currently, cooperation between educational institutions and the art and cultural industries is becoming one of the effective mechanisms for promoting educational brands, increasing consumer loyalty, creating competitive market superiority. The article considers cooperation in the context of the Virtual Museum project between brands such as the Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU) and the Russian Museum.

The article traces the evolution of the Eurasian idea, starting from the initial stage of its formation, in the context of comparing it with the implementation of the Soviet project in the pre-war years on the basis of the first three five-year plans for socialist construction. Attempts to formalize the theoretical status of the Eurasian civilization were formed on the basis of ideas about “Russia–Eurasia” as a cultural personality, about the Eurasian state, often comparing these constructions with the real achievements of socialist construction and confidently declaring the Eurasian world order within Russia–Eurasia in the future.

Aim of the study: to evaluate the effect of meglumine sodium succinate (MSS) on the efficacy of anticoagulant therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 infection complicated by bilateral community-acquired pneumonia. Materials and methods. Overall efficacy of treatment was analyzed in 12 patients hospitalized to ICU with the diagnosis of severe confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus infection (U07.1) complicated by bilateral multisegmental pneumonia. All patients received prophylactic anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin. The patients were divided into two groups: 7 of them received a multi-electrolyte solution containing MSS 5 ml/kg daily for the entire ICU stay (3-10 days) as a part of therapy; 5 patients received a similar volume of a conventional multi-electrolyte solution containing no metabolically active substrates and comprised a control group. Coagulation parameters were measured in arterial and venous blood of all patients at the following stages: 1) upon admission to the ICU; 2) 2-4 hours after the first dose of heparin; 3) 8-12 hours after the second dose of heparin; 4) 24 hours after the beginning of intensive therapy. On the 28 th day of follow-up, mortality, duration of ICU stay, and incidence of thrombotic complications in the groups were evaluated. Nonparametric methods of statistical analysis were used to assess intragroup changes and intergroup differences. Results. The group of patients administered with MSS had significantly fewer thromboembolic events during 28 days of treatment and shorter ICU stay. These patients responded faster to anticoagulant therapy, which was suggested by more distinct changes in coagulation parameters, i.e. increased APTT, persisting viable thrombocyte population, reduced D-dimer and fibrinogen levels. Conclusion. The metabolic action of succinate possibly increases endothelial resistance to damaging factors and reduces its procoagulant activity. The hypothesis requires testing in a larger clinical study with a design including laboratory evaluation of the efficacy of varying doses of the studied drug as well as aiming at elucidation of the mechanisms of its effect on specific pro- and anticoagulation system components.