BALANCE OF COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS IN UKRAINE: STATE OPTIONS

The article is considered the problem of achieving a balance of competitive forces between real and potential domestic and foreign producers of industrial products in the internal market of Ukraine. It was described the market reforms in Ukraine from the stand­point of balancing competitive conditions on the example of mechanical engineering goods. It was identified the factors that would facilitate ensuring the balance of competitive forces in Ukraine. It was proposed the measures for balancing the competitive conditions manu­facturing enterprises due to the intersectoral diversion of capital and involvement the state in investing in high-tech projects.

Principles of formation of the agro-industrial complex in the modern agricultural economy of Russia

Subject. This article deals with the issues of development of market relations in agriculture. Objectives. The article aims to consider the research vocabulary used when describing the features of the development of the agro-industrial complex during the period of market reforms. Methods. For the study, I used analysis and synthesis, and the methods of grouping, comparison, and generalization. Results. The article finds that cash and raw material flows, labor and technical resources cannot be allocated on a centralized basis, as it was usually done during the emergence of the structure of the agro-industrial complex. Conclusions. The traditional category of Agro-Industrial Complex is losing its economic relevance. For scientific observation and practical use, other generalizing categories should replace it.

Stratification processes in Uzbek society

The stratification processes taking place in the newly independent states of the post-Soviet space have both common starting principles and special tendencies. Under the conditions of market reforms, stratification processes are deepening. Based on a comparative analysis of various approaches, the author identified nine types of stratification systems and their general historical nature. A summary description of the specifics of each of them is provided. As a special feature, the article shows the division of Uzbek society into various social strata and strata according to their status indicators.

The Forest Stewardship Council: Private Governance in Brazil and Russia

NGOs from Brazil and Russia participate in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a global private governance initiative that promotes sustainable forestry using certification and labeling, contributing to increases in certified forest territory and certified companies in both more democratic Brazil and less democratic Russia. The chapter argues that while Brazilian NGOs participate in FSC more robustly at the national and international levels, FSC has been a more consequential site for mediation in Russia. It argues that differences in Russian and Brazilian NGO engagement with FSC are linked in part to the timing of global governance intervention. Brazilian NGOs achieved some policy goals during earlier efforts to save the Amazon rainforest, while in Russia NGOs leveraged the FSC at a crucial moment following post-Soviet market reforms when forestry companies sought export markets.

Fiscal and External Deficits Nexus in GIIPS Countries: Evidence from Parametric and Nonparametric Causality Tests

This paper investigates the relationship between fiscal and external deficits in five European Union countries (Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain) using quarterly data for the period 1980:1–2020:1. Literature on the relationship between these series used linear techniques, but generally reported inconclusive results. Nonlinearity has been overlooked even though fiscal policy is likely to exhibit nonlinearity due to its sensitivity to political decisions. To capture this nonlinearity behaviour, nonlinear causality techniques are applied here in addition to the usual linear techniques used in the extant literature. The results show that there is evidence of unidirectional nonlinear causality from trade balances to government deficits in Greece and Italy, and a nonlinear unidirectional causality from government deficits to trade balance in Portugal. The results also indicate evidence of a nonlinear bi-directional causality between the trade and government balances in Ireland and Spain. The policy implication of these results is that governments of these countries need to address fiscal deficits to manage their trade balances. Policies that will improve the countries’ revenue base, such as tax and labour market reforms as well as capital market reforms to engender productivity and increase competitiveness, would be beneficial.

Some Effects of EU Sugar Reforms on Development in Africa

The sugar industry is a major provider of jobs and income for sugar-exporting countries in Africa. The lower sugar prices that were caused by the recent liberalisation of the EU sugar market may not only jeopardise economic development in those countries, but the reforms also create difficulties for sugar-importing countries in Africa that seek to develop their sugar industries. The article analyses the effects of EU sugar market reforms on three African countries — Nigeria, South Africa and Mozambique — and provides insights into the balancing of the EU sugar policy’s intended effects against their adverse effects on European trade and development policy.