Regional budget heavy-subsidization determinants: Evidence from Russia

Subject. This article deals with the issues of identifying determinants that contribute to Russian depressed regions' overexposure to State aid. Objectives. The article aims to identify the basic determinants of increasing the level of high subsidy dependence of depressed regions of Russia. Methods. For the study, I used the methods of econometric stochastic analysis, time series, coefficients, and logical generalization. Results. The article reveals the key role of socio-economic component determinants, such as the standard of living, unemployment, fertility, in the formation and strengthening of subsidy dependence of depressed regions of Russia. Conclusions. The current development status of heavily subsidized regional budgets of Russia depends on the dynamics of transfer support directly. The standard of living of the population of the regions, tension in the labor market, and investment activity have a major impact on it. The solution of socio-economic problems can contribute to a gradual and systematic exit from the state of heavy subsidy dependence of the Russian depressed regions.

Mechanisms for Ensuring the Economic Security of Depressed Regions

The strategic policy of the Russian Federation is structured in such a way that the priority task is to preserve and support economic security, create optimal conditions for the development of socio-economic cooperation and sustainable sectoral development in accordance with the norms of the federal state. Regional economic systems are characterized by a unique combination of economic, social, informational, environmental and other mandatory components; the presence of many different connections; circulation of large flows of financial, material and informational resources, representing in their entirety the socio-economic potential of the region. In order to make better use of all these resources, each region separately must operate on the principles that determine stability and security. The article considers the implementation of targeted programs in depressed regions as one of the ways to reduce the lag in the level of socio-economic development. The article analyzes the experience of implementing federal programs in the Republic of Dagestan as a depressed region of Russia, as well as the tasks that were solved with the help of these regional policy instruments. The author’s view on the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of a number of federal targeted programs in the region is presented. The aim of the work is to find new forms of interaction between government, business and society for the transition of depressed regions to a new economic level.

Depression of administrative-territorial units of Chernivtsi oblast: social-geographical assessment

Problem Statement and Purpose. The world economy has always developed and continues to develop cyclically, which affects the economic development of individual countries and their regions. As a result of cyclical economic development, regions are formed that maintain a progressive or stagnant type of economic development, and some of them, especially during periods of economic crisis, develop a regressive type. Thus, depressed regions or their separate territories appear, the study of which aims to identify in time the territorial disparities and polarizations of different types of the social formation of administrative units and to establish the level of their depression. It should be noted that most of the available scientific achievements concern the study of the territory of Ukraine at the regional level, and not at the subregional (raion) level. Therefore, our research allows us to shed more light on the depression of administrative-territorial units of Chernivtsi oblast, which differs from other regions of Ukraine by its natural-geographical, demographic, ethnic contrast, as well as cross-border and border position, which certainly has a significant impact on depression of regions and cities of regional significance.The purpose of this study is to conduct a socio-geographical assessment of the depression of administrative-territorial units of Chernivtsi oblast, which allows us to learn about the current state of the oblast and its raions in terms of depression, as well as identify possible steps to solve this problem.Data & Methods. To study the depression of administrative-territorial units of Chernivtsi oblast, the following main types were chosen: economic, social, and demographic. For each of these blocks, the main indicators of indicators were determined, according to which a socio-geographical assessment of the level of depression in administrative regions and cities of regional significance was conducted.Having established the rating places for each administrative-territorial unit according to the selected indicators, or their relative values, it was possible to establish the average place of each unit and, accordingly, the level of depression for each of the studied blocks. It was also established the common place of administrative units in the region by all indicators and thus identified different, according to the level of depression, regions.Results. With the help of rating research, the typification of administrative-territorial units of the oblast according to the level of economic, social, demographic, and integral depression was carried out. The most depressed were the agricultural raions of the oblast – Khotyn, and Sokyriany. However, it should be noted that Khotyn raion has the same types of depression in all its components, and in Sokyriany raion the worst is the demographic situation, and the best ‒ the economic one. The lowest level of depression is characteristic of Storozhynets raion, which is explained by its favorable geographical location relative to the oblast center, which contributes to economic and social development, as well as polyethnicity, which strengthens the demographic component.

DEPRESSED REGIONS OF GEORGIA HAVE GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TOURISM

The article - "Depressed regions of Georgia have good opportunities for inclusive development through tourism" - consists of the following parts:  Introduction.  Definitions of terms.  The need for inclusive growth in the world and in Georgia.  Priorities of inclusive growth in the depressed regions of Georgia.  Potential for tourism development in the depressed regions of Georgia.  Summarizing conclusion. The article brings to the forward the issue of priority development of the economically backward (depressed) regions and different parts of Georgia - Racha-Lechkhumi, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Pshav-Khevsureti, Tusheti and others, through the development of tourism. This opinion of the author is based on the resources needed for the development of tourism in these regions, about what the other Georgian scientists - I. Khelashvili, K. Arabuli, d. Gabunia and others - write a lot. Keywords: Tourism; Inclusive; Inclusive tourism; Inclusive growth; Region; Poverty and inequality.

Advances on the Implementation of Circular Economy Techniques in Rural Areas in Colombia under a Sustainable Development Framework

For the first time in the scientific literature, this research shows an analysis of the implementation of circular economy techniques under sustainable development framework in six municipalities with a depressed economy in Colombia. The analysis is based on solid waste data production at a local scale, the valuation of the waste for subsequent recycling, and the identification and quantification of the variables associated with the treatment and final disposal of waste, in accordance with the Colombian regulatory framework. Waste generation data are obtained considering three different scenarios, in which a comparison between the simulated values and those established in the management plans are compared. Important differences have been identified between the waste management programs of each municipality, specifically regarding the components of waste collection, transportation and disposal, participation of environmental reclaimers, and potential use of materials. These differences are fundamentally associated with the different administrative processes considered for each individual municipality. This research is a good starting point for the development of waste management models based on circular economy techniques, through the subsequent implementation of an office tool in depressed regions such as those studied.

Sino-Western rivalry in the COVID-19 “vaccine wars”–A race to the bottom?

PurposeThis paper analyses the escalating Sino-Western race to develop a safe, efficacious and durable vaccine (i.e. “Goldilocks COVID-19 vaccine”). It argues that such efforts would be considerably more effective if there is greater international cooperation instead of the corrosive rivalry driven by misplaced nationalism.Design/methodology/approachThis study deploys a case-study approach, supported by literature on existing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine development efforts.FindingsDespite the seeming success of recent COVID-19 vaccines, their actual efficacy is far from certain. Moreover, access to these vaccines would not be equitable internationally. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that their unique properties make storage and distribution prohibitively expensive, and international mechanisms to provide distribution to economically depressed regions are non-existent. Given the significant difficulties, it would be incumbent upon the great powers (i.e. China and America) to work together not only in vaccine development but also in the establishment of a distribution platform to ensure equitable access worldwide.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few social science research papers on COVID-19 vaccine development and its implications for society at large.

ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF INVESTMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEPRESSED REGIONS

Social and economic spheres of depressed regions develop unfavorably which, in its turn, leads to the negative pace of the national economy development. “Depressed regions” have a higher growth rate of investments in fixed capital per capita than Russian indicators, but the growth of investment does not cause unambiguous changes in the demographic indicators of development. All “depressed regions” are currently characterized by depopulation and a negative balance of interregional migration. Thus, despite the growth of investment, “depressed regions” are characterized by a reduction in labor and demographic potential. The problem of analyzing the relationship between investment and demographic factors in the development of “depressed regions” is not fully studied today, which undoubtedly affects the quality and effectiveness of decisions made by state authorities to overcome the depressive nature of their economies.

Updating the methodology for providing incentive subsidies to depressed agricultural regions

Subject. The article considers a procedure for calculating and distributing State support to depressed agricultural regions in the framework of a new type of budget financing, i.e. compensating and stimulating subsidies. Objectives. The purpose is to evaluate the efficiency of the system of State regulation of agribusiness in a depressed region, determine the priority of modern methods of budgetary support from the State, improve the methodological approach to the distribution of State aid among subjects of the Russian Federation with low level of socio-economic development. Methods. The study draws on the abstract and logical method, methods of statistical analysis, grouping, comparison, and generalization. Results. We realized the objectives of the study, using the agricultural producers of the Kurgan Oblast case. The paper analyzes the condition of agricultural sector in the depressed region, assesses the State support system efficiency for the agricultural sector of the Trans-Ural region, considers government measures related to the regulation of the economy of backward regions. It presents an updated method of budget financing within an incentive subsidy by clarifying the calculations and introducing an additional indicator that reflects the level of remuneration of regional agricultural producers. Conclusions. The updated calculation methodology for incentive subsidies to depressed regions enables to build a certain economic rating of ten depressed regions of the Russian Federation, taking into account not only the volume of production and employment, but also the level of wages of agricultural workers.