Can We Assume Sustained Impact? Verifying the Sustainability of Climate Change Mitigation Results

The purpose of this research was to explore how public donors and lenders evaluate the sustainability of environmental and other sectoral development interventions. Specifically, the aim is to examine if, how, and how well post project sustainability is evaluated in donor-funded climate change mitigation (CCM) projects, including the evaluability of these projects. We assessed the robustness of current evaluation practice of results after project exit, particularly the sustainability of outcomes and long-term impact. We explored methods that could reduce uncertainty of achieving results by using data from two pools of CCM projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Can Be Solidarity Paradigm a Catalyst for the Sustainability of Tourism?

The destructive effects of tourism on society, the environment, and the economy are among the phenomena that are widely known and discussed, like many other industries. Tourism, as one of the most reckless events of consumption fetishism, has a dynamism that affects sectoral development too on a demand basis. In these respects, it is considered that tourism should be rehabilitated in order to be sustainable despite its many positive effects. Although the “consumer and individualist spirit” of tourism is distant to collective, solidaristic, and restrictive-controlling approaches, it is expected that there will be a need for more interaction and association with these aspects in the new paradigm areas of the future. This study focuses on the habitual attitudes of tourism with the possible expectations of the future and discusses the solidarity tourism forms for the sustainability of tourism. It is clear that is needed to ask the economic, egocentric approaches in tourism. The paper predicts the more responsible, acceptable, fair, and conscious tourism can be possible if the spirit and face of tourism are able to turn to the solidaristic, and sustainable direction.

scientific and Innovative Aspects of Russian and chinese Experience in the Field of strategic Planning

Purpose: of the study is to determine the possibilities of borrowing the Chinese experience of strategic planning of innovative development in Russia.Methods: the study of the innovative experience of the PRC in strategic planning and the prospects for Chinese-Russian cooperation in this area was carried out using a content analysis of the features of strategic planning of the scientific, technological and innovative potential of the PRC and the Russian Federation, as well as analysis of statistical data on innovative and economic development presented in statistical collections of Russia and the PRC.Results: it is shown that the systems of strategic planning of Russia and the PRC are in many respects similar. Many of the strategic initiatives of the PRC are adopted in Russia. At the same time, the attitude to strategic planning in the two countries is different. In Russia in the field of strategic management of science, it is recommended to strengthen international scientific and technical cooperation between Russia and the PRC in the difficult conditions of the modern world.Conclusions and Relevance: taking into account global trends, it is proposed to introduce such innovations into the strategic planning of the scientific and innovative sphere of Russia. First, there is a clearer linking of the tasks of innovative development to the general tasks of the country (long-term national and sectoral development goals). Also, a detailed substantiation of the possibility of implementing the selected priorities. Finally, greater clarity of the planned ones. mechanisms for ensuring partnership between the state and business in achieving strategic objectives of scientific and innovative development.The principles and approaches of the China to strategic planning of development in general and innovative development in particular in Russia should be used carefully and creatively. From an economic point of view, it would be expedient to integrate research more closely, create large joint projects and plan them together in a mutually respectful dialogue between scientists and experts from Russia and China.

Characterizing the sectoral development of cities

Previous research has identified a predictive model of how a nation’s distribution of gross domestic product (GDP) among agriculture (a), industry (i), and services (s) changes as a country develops. Here we use this national model to analyze the composition of GDP for US Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) over time. To characterize the transfer of GDP shares between the sectors in the course of economic development we explore a simple system of differential equations proposed in the country-level model. Fitting the model to more than 120 MSAs we find that according to the obtained parameters MSAs can be classified into 6 groups (consecutive, high industry, re-industrializing; each of them also with reversed development direction). The consecutive transfer (a → i → s) is common but does not represent all MSAs examined. At the 95% confidence level, 40% of MSAs belong to types exhibiting an increasing share of GDP from agriculture. In California, such MSAs, which we classify as part of an agriculture renaissance, are found in the Central Valley.

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.

Methodological aspects of regional spatial and sectoral development management

The article considers the key aspects of methodology of management by spatial and industrial development of Russian regions. Methodological basis of management as the basic element of control system by spatial-branch development of region demands specification and scientific substantiation. The essence of the problem consists in the fact that as a result of insufficient scientific and methodological elucidation and grounding of management pro-spatial-branch development of a region there is a discordance of interaction of functional mechanisms in the management system, which determines the low level of adaptability of management spatial-branch development to new challenges and changes in external and internal environment of the region. There has been carried out systematization and structural formalization of methodological basis of management by spatial and sectoral development of region. The analysis of scientific maintenance of a methodological basis of management by spatial and industrial development of region has allowed to specify and expand concepts of a development management methodology. The basic characteristics of development as a process of transformation of regional spatial and sectoral structure are presented, on the assumption of which management concept of spatial and sectoral development of a region is specified, a subject structure and key parameters of management are revealed. Principles of managing pro-spatial and industrial development of the region have been considered and substantiated. The concept of resource management and the contents of the resource base of the region spatial and sectoral development management has been analyzed. It has been inferred that the specific methodological grounds are the major scientific element of the control system by the spatial-sectoral development of the region.

Kuzbass Trade and Transport Hub: Strategic Relevance for Sectoral and Regional Development

The socio-economic development of regions and states depends on the combination of existing strategic factors, as well as on their competent implementation. Recent decades saw rapid dynamics and changes in the functioning conditions of economic systems: new trends have lead to new challenges and shocks at the global, national, regional, industry, and corporate levels. The deteriorating economic situation and the increasing pressure on the material and technological resources create additional restrictions and obstacles to sectoral and regional development in Russia. The disproportionate distribution of resources makes regions look for asymmetric and radically new strategic solutions, thus consolidating all available resources for a qualitative economic breakthrough. The Strategy of the Socio-Economic Development of the Kemerovo Region (Kuzbass) for the period up to 2035 was approved by the regional government. It establishes the fundamental transformation of Kuzbass into a large Siberian trade center and hub as a strategic priority for all directions, including industrial and regional development. The scale of the priority necessitates additional study of certain aspects of this strategic direction. The research objective was to determine the strategic relevance of the Kuzbass trade and transport hub in the strategizing of regional and sectoral development. The author assessed the interests in this strategic priority and their systematization by appropriate groups, defined the conceptual structure of the Kuzbass trade and transport hub, highlighted the relationship with the strategic contours of the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development, explained the role of the future hub for sectoral and regional strategizing, and indicated its social and economic efficiency.

A Hybrid Model to Alleviate Unemployment and Poverty in South Africa

Poverty and unemployment are considered social threats in South Africa as the rate keeps on escalating while few measures are implemented to alleviate the trend. This study devised a hybrid model to reduce the rate of poverty and unemployment in South Africa. The Human Capital Theory formed the theoretical base of this study, which explained the need for the government to invest in education to improve the chances of gaining employment to reduce poverty. The study adopted a quantitative approach and data were collected from only secondary sources. Major findings disclosed that the poverty rate in South Africa is at 49.2% while 64.2% of South African blacks remain poor. The study revealed that the unemployment rate is at 30.1% in the first quarter of 2020 while provinces such as Eastern Cape (40.5%) and the Free State (38.4%) have the highest share of unemployment in the country. The meta-analysis conducted revealed that improvement is needed in areas such as legislation and labour laws, entrepreneurial development, youth development policies, common vision and leadership, sectoral development, business climate, acquisition of skills and education, engagement management, and strategic management. This is in an endeavour to reduce poverty and unemployment rate in South Africa.