Trust shifting as a reaction to pandemic: Cross country analysis

Author(s):  
Tamara Merkulova ◽  
Kateryna Kononova

Governance systems all over the world are coming under huge stress. Nowadays, two factors become crucial in the fight against the pandemic and its negative consequences: the state's ability to withstand stress in the economy and society; and civil support and approval of the governments' anti-crisis actions. This study aims to recognize the difference in stress response in different countries of the world. As a criterion for such a response, we consider the level of trust to governments in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Fragile States Index was used as a measure of the state fragility, and the indices of trust were used as indicators of the people's reaction. The study showed that there is no correlation between 1) the trust in the government and the fragility of the state; 2) the support for government actions during the pandemic and the trust to the government before the pandemic. The clustering of countries by the set of indices of trust and fragility showed that the clusters' means support both the assumptions of a direct and an inverse relationship between trust and state resistance to stress. In response to quarantine measures, we see multidirectional trends in both stable and fragile states: trust can grow, fall, or remain unchanged. However, in stronger states, the tendency to an increase in trust is stronger, while in weaker states - to its fall, which confirms the thesis that in crisis the weak weakens and the strong strengthens. The results of the analyses provide arguments in favor of the following. The stability of the state does not guarantee the high trust of citizens and support for its actions during a crisis, and high trust is not a stable factor of high support for government actions. At the same time, it can be expected that the positive reaction of citizens to government measures (increased trust) will be more significant than disappointment (loss of trust).

Author(s):  
I.S. Balanchuk

The global financial crisis has put the question to practically all countries of the world to take on the inevitable changes and take the negative consequences of the financial downturn, or to accept new revolutionary changes in all sectors of the economy and become modern competitive states, able to withstand the challenges of the modern world. Some countries have left everything as it is, others have tried to adapt to the new situation. One of these countries is Iceland. The state began structural changes many decades ago, but the crisis events of 2008 somehow accelerated this process. The post-crisis plan for the country’s exit from the financial crisis and the recovery of the economy at pre-crisis positions was adopted; subsequently, the targets were adjusted improvement of pre-crisis indicators. The essence of the plan was to make full use of the country’s natural resources for the benefit of the state, namely: tourism, geothermal energy, the fishing industry, as well as biotechnology and pharmaceuticals were to become the basic “pillars” on which the national economy was based. An intelligent approach along with original ideas has brought its positive results: over the years Iceland has become one of the leaders in Europe for a number of indicators, namely: annual tourist flow, production and export of fish, use of renewable energy sources for their own needs, life expectancy, etc. In 2018, the government of Iceland created a new state development plan aimed at consolidating the results of previous years and improving individual indicators. It was decided to pay more attention to the latest innovation processes both in the state and in the world as a whole, as well as the development and support of innovative enterprises to update all components of the Icelandic economic system. Judging by the pace of development shown by this northern country, the results from the implementation of the points of the new plan will be more than positive


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 120-127
Author(s):  
Volodymyr Shypovskyi

Since 1991, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly changed the vector of the country's development depending on the views and intentions of the ruling politicians, which has led to negative consequences for the development of all spheres of activity of Ukrainians. One of these consequences is a decrease in the country's authority in the world community. Among the threats facing our state on the way to protection of national interests and national security, the most vulnerable link was the information sphere. It should be noted that the issue of coordinated and proper use of communication opportunities at all levels of public policy – public diplomacy, public relations, military relations, information and psychological operations, measures aimed at promoting the goals of the state has always been acute. Public diplomacy is the realization of the soft power of the country in the international arena, the promotion of the interests of the state in the world by mobilizing the support of the foreign community. This support is achieved by stimulating the desire of the foreign community to consume the ideals of democracy, good governance, integrity, prosperity, security, success and unlimited opportunities for human development. Public diplomacy is one of the components of strategic communications, which has a key task – the formation of the image of the state and its institutions at the international level, the consolidation of important brands in the global information space. The development of state branding should be based primarily on the formation of the state/institutional narrative and broadcast to different target audiences. Thus, public diplomacy involves the formation of the image of all institutional components of the state. The success of economic growth and the dynamic development of relations with other countries largely depends on how the country's brand is formed and promoted in the domestic and global markets. Creating a positive image of the country should be the subject of special attention of the Government and any composition of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine. The most effective tool of public diplomacy is the media and social networks, which, as mass media, should work to promote national ideas among the population of the country and outside Ukraine.


Author(s):  
Angela Dranishnikova

In the article, the author reflects the existing problems of the fight against corruption in the Russian Federation. He focuses on the opacity of the work of state bodies, leading to an increase in bribery and corruption. The topic we have chosen is socially exciting in our days, since its significance is growing on a large scale at all levels of the investigated aspect of our modern life. Democratic institutions are being jeopardized, the difference in the position of social strata of society in society’s access to material goods is growing, and the state of society is suffering from the moral point of view, citizens are losing confidence in the government, and in the top officials of the state.


1974 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Pettman

Zambia inherited a system of government and administration in 1964 which was ill-suited to the tasks of political development to which her new leaders were dedicated. What little national unity and mobilisation had been achieved in the independence struggle declined with the removal of the common enemy. The Government rested on a fragile base, without the support of agreed rules and practices to limit and contain conflict, and without adequate instruments available for the implementation of its policies. So the search began for a more suitable political system, which could cope with the new needs of independence, and provide for the stability of the state and the survival of the Government.


2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
Tomy Kallarackal

The Value Added Tax was first introduced in France in 1954. It was the resultant effort of France and members of the European Economic Community (E.E.C) during the 1950s aimed at the simplification of commodity taxes. Currently more than 130 nations in the world have adopted the VAT system. In the last decade alone over 50 nations have introduced VAT. This includes implementation in China and most recently the addition of Australia to the list of VAT nations. The world over, VAT is payable on both goods and services as they constitute a part of the national GDR Excise duty and sales taxes are merged into the singularity of VAT. No tax is levied on exports with full input tax credit made available. The scheme of taxation adopted by most nations is very simple. The seller of goods and the service provider charge tax on sales, avail input tax credit and pay the difference as VAT to the goVernment treasury. The compliance system in VAT nations is also very simple. There is very less interface between the tax collector and the tax payer. However there are provisions for heavy penalization of VAT defaulters. VAT is administered nationally and is also levied on imports.  


Author(s):  
Nataliia Sytnyk ◽  
Veronika Ishchenko

In modern conditions of functioning of the market economy, in the era of development of globalization and globalization processes, the prevalence of international relations, the spread of various forms of international capital movement, in particular foreign direct investment, an important place is occupied by investment activities and policies implemented by the state within the framework of the latter. It is difficult to overestimate the importance and role of investment, because world experience shows that the effective development of business entities, and therefore the country's economy as a whole, cannot be imagined without making investments. Therefore, the government of almost any country in the world is focused on creating a favorable investment climate. The article defines the theoretical foundations of investment security of the state: the essence of the concept is outlined, the principles on which investment security is based, its place and role in the state's economic security system are justified. Qualitative and quantitative criteria for a comprehensive assessment of the state's investment security are presented. The calculation and analysis of the main indicators – quantitative criteria of investment security: gross accumulation of fixed capital; the degree of accumulation of fixed capital; the ratio of the cost of newly introduced fixed assets to the volume of capital investments is carried out; the ratio of net growth of foreign direct investment to GDP; the size of the Ukrainian economy as a percentage of global GDP. The dynamics of the total volume of foreign direct investment in the Ukrainian economy in the context of world countries is analyzed. The main investor countries that ensure the receipt of the largest volumes of investment flows to the Ukrainian economy are identified. Ukraine's place in the World Bank's “Doing Business” rating over the past ten years has been demonstrated. The positive dynamics regarding Ukraine's place in the World Bank's “Doing Business” rating and the main factors that influenced such positive changes were noted. The investment climate of the state is assessed and possible measures are proposed to improve the mechanism of managing the state's investment security.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Shah Azami

As part of its “War on Terror”, the United States (US) provided immense sums of money and advanced equipment to Afghan warlords in order to defeat and dismantle the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Nearly two decades after the 2001 US-led intervention in Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban regime, the US continues supporting the warlords in various ways. As the intervention was also aimed at establishing a functioning state and reconstruction of the war-torn country, the US needed the support of local warlords to achieve its goals. However, over time, warlords and warlordism became a major challenge to the postTaliban state-building project and in many ways undermined the overall security and the state monopoly on violence. These warlords, who had been mostly expelled and defeated by the Taliban regime, returned under the aegis of the B52 bombers, recaptured parts of the country and reestablished their fiefdoms with US support and resources. They not only resist giving up the power and prestige they have accumulated over the past few years, but also hamper the effort to improve governance and enact necessary reforms in the country. In addition, many of them run their private militias and have been accused of serious human rights abuses as well as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, illegal mining and extortion in the areas under their control or influence. In many ways, they challenge the government authority and have become a major hurdle to the country’s emerging from lawlessness and anarchy. This paper explores the emergence and reemergence of warlords in Afghanistan as well as the evolution of chaos and anarchy in the country, especially after the US-led intervention of late 2001. It also analyzes the impact of the post-9/11 US support to Afghan warlords and its negative consequences for the overall stability and the US-led state-building process in Afghanistan.


Author(s):  
Taisiia Barilovska

The purpose of the article is to clarify the external functions of the President of Ukraine in the context of ensuring the security of the state. The mechanism of performing the external functions of Ukraine is characterized by the complex structure of interrelated and interacting relations. Of particular importance in this mechanism is the President of Ukraine, who, in accordance with the powers enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine and Ukrainian legislation, heads this mechanism and coordinates the operation of its parts. The foreign policy activities of the President of Ukraine are based on the general principles of separation of powers, of the rule of law, of constitutional responsibility, and on the specific principles of the unity and of the support of foreign policy. In order to improve the operation of the mechanism of implementing foreign policy, headed by the President of Ukraine, the measures aimed at intensifying foreign policy activities and enhancing the independence of the Government of Ukraine and developing the scientific component of this mechanism are required. The process of performing external functions of the state implies the existence of an appropriate mechanism. The mechanism of performing Ukraine’s external functions includes elements that are heterogeneous in their task, legal status, organization and other characteristics, which in their turn are interrelated and interacting. The President of Ukraine has a special place in this mechanism. In accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, he directs the foreign policy of the country and as a head of state represents Ukraine in international relations. The logic of the current stage of the development of interstate relations strongly confirms that in order to effectively strengthen the common peace and international security, a unified strategy of interacting and regulating the external functions and powers of the presidents at the international level in ensuring this security must be developed. Perhaps, one of the most important functions of the President of Ukraine at the international level is the external function of ensuring the security of the state. Until the state has the security of its own territory and borders, other functions do not matter, because security is the guarantee of the stability, and therefore, the possibility of ensuring other functions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-332
Author(s):  
Tatiana A. Burtseva ◽  
Sergey S. Khvorostyannikov ◽  
Anastasia A. Kuznetsova

The depletion of traditional organic energy sources and aggravated environmental problems are the reasons why the level of energy efficiency is an important factor in the competitiveness of the national economy. Russia ranks third in the world in terms of total energy consumption and its economy is distinguished by a high level of energy intensity (amount of energy per unit of GDP). In 2019, this figure was 9.62 tons of oil equivalent (toe) per 1 million rubles, which is 40% higher than the world average. The low energy efficiency of the Russian economy is a widely recognized problem. A special decree of the Government of Russia in 2018 sets the task of increasing the level of energy efficiency of the Russian economy by 23% by 2030. One of the ways to solve this problem is the development of nuclear energy, and increasing the competitiveness of nuclear energy is one of the key issues for the national economy. In this connection, solving the problem of assessing the competitiveness of the nuclear industry and its leading companies occupies a key place among the practical scientific problems, the solution of which is facilitated by the results presented by the authors in this article. Rosenergoatom Concern JSC is the leading energy generating company in the Russian nuclear industry. The results of the study of the competitiveness of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC were obtained on the basis of the authors’ methodology for assessing the competitiveness of an energy generating company. The novelty of the presented methodology lies in the developed normative and evaluative model and the coefficients of competitiveness of an energy generating company. The advantages of the authors’ model are that it allows (1) obtaining integral assessments of the competitiveness of a power generating company at short time intervals for a large number of indicators and (2) quantitatively measuring the effects of different factors on the competitiveness of a power generating company, provided that the grouping of indicators of competitiveness of a power generating company is justified by influencing factors. The two factors considered by the authors were: the general market factor and the industry factor. According to the results of the study, it was found that Rosenergoatom Concern JSC demonstrates positive increase of the competitiveness indicator mainly due to the industry factor. With this regard, it was concluded that, within the framework of state policy, it is advisable to strengthen support for the Russian nuclear industry by creating additional conditions and opportunities for its energy generating companies on the domestic energy market.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
L. V. AGARKOVA ◽  
◽  
V. V. AGARKOV ◽  
M. G. RUSETSKY ◽  
◽  
...  

In the context of the globalization of the world economy, the issue of ensuring the financial security of the state is a condition of its national security and acquires special significance. The article examines the indicators of financial security, establishes a system of precursors - indicators of the financial security of the state, allowing to predict the onset of negative consequences. the main indicators of the financial security of the Russian Federation were assessed.


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