Lisitsin-Svetlanov Andrey G. Doctor of Law, Professor Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The market relations based on competition laws established during the last quarter of the century and the accumulated experience inevitably require the elaboration of new development plans and the adjustment of the existing legal regulation. The introduction of some exceptions in the laws stipulates specific further “recalibration” of the basic as well as special regulation. The Energy Strategy of Russia until 2035 defining the aims, priorities and areas of the development of the power industry of the Russian Federation emphasizes the need for a structural diversification within which the significance of liquefied natural gas will be raised, the carbon-based power industry will be supplemented with the non-carbon-based one, the decentralized power supply will be added to the centralized one. The discussed plans of the competition development in Russia are still not widespread beyond the Strategy. The review of the list of natural monopolies in the power industry makes it obvious that their current essential reformation aiming at demonopolization is highly improbable due to their technical and economic characteristics. Thus, it appears that in the near future, taking into account the established technical and economic conditions in which natural monopolies exist, the adjustment of their operations in terms of securing market conditions can be connected with the adjustment of the regulation of the tariff setting mechanism and the legal “localization” of the non-discrimination principle in relation to the operations of specific natural monopolies.

Natural Monopolies in the Energy Sector of the Economy: Legal Issues of Reformation

The market relations based on competition laws established during the last quarter of the century and the accumulated experience inevitably require the elaboration of new development plans and the adjustment of the existing legal regulation. The introduction of some exceptions in the laws stipulates specific further “recalibration” of the basic as well as special regulation. The Energy Strategy of Russia until 2035 defining the aims, priorities and areas of the development of the power industry of the Russian Federation emphasizes the need for a structural diversification within which the significance of liquefied natural gas will be raised, the carbon-based power industry will be supplemented with the non-carbon-based one, the decentralized power supply will be added to the centralized one. The discussed plans of the competition development in Russia are still not widespread beyond the Strategy. The review of the list of natural monopolies in the power industry makes it obvious that their current essential reformation aiming at demonopolization is highly improbable due to their technical and economic characteristics. Thus, it appears that in the near future, taking into account the established technical and economic conditions in which natural monopolies exist, the adjustment of their operations in terms of securing market conditions can be connected with the adjustment of the regulation of the tariff setting mechanism and the legal “localization” of the non-discrimination principle in relation to the operations of specific natural monopolies.

Review of benchmark on-grid power tariffs in China

This paper reviews the introduction, implementation, and adjustment of benchmark on-grid power tariffs in China as well as discusses the impact from the on-going power market reforms. The analysis was made with the price data and policy documents from the NDRC and regional regulators. This paper concludes with a summary of features and drivers of historical changes in benchmark on-grid power tariffs and the values and contributions of this dominant price-setting mechanism of electric power in the last 15 years.

Peralihan Rezim Tektonik: Implikasinya pada Konsentrasi Torium di Mamasa dan Tana Toraja, Sulawesi-Indonesia

ABSTRAK Mamasa dan Tana Toraja secara geografis merupakan bagian dari lengan barat Pulau Sulawesi. Batuan-batuan mafik di daerah tersebut dan sekitarnya memiliki nilai laju radiasi tinggi dan anomali kandungan torium (Th). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui mekanisme tataan tektonik yang berperan dalam peningkatan konsentrasi Th. Enam sampel batuan dianalisis menggunakan analisis petrografi dan geokimia (AAS, ICP-MS, NA, dan XRF), dilengkapi dengan pentarikhan umur menggunakan metode 40K-40Ar pada sampel batuan terpilih. Pengamatan petrografi memperlihatkan kehadiran mineral plagioklas, olivin, piroksen, hornblenda, nefelin, dan alanit pada batuan yang diidentifikasi sebagai nefelin-basanit, basalt, trakhibasalt, dan gabro. Sejumlah tekstur yang tampak pada batuan tersebut mengindikasikan kontaminasi dan perubahan kondisi tektonik. Analisis geokimia menunjukkan bahwa nefelin-basanit, basalt, trakhibasalt, dan gabro (absarokit) terbentuk pada batas kontinental aktif (ACM) yang sedang mengalami transisi dari subduksi aktif (penunjaman ke arah barat) menjadi post-subduksi. Perubahan tataan tektonik membuat magma membeku pada kondisi yang sangat ekstrim. Proses pembekuan magma diinterpretasikan terjadi pada umur sekitar 13,10-11,02 Ma. Mekanisme tersebut berperan penting terhadap terjadinya peningkatan konsentrasi torium di Mamasa dan Tana Toraja.ABSTRACT Mamasa and Tana Toraja geographically are part of the western arm of Sulawesi Island. The mafic rocks in these areas and their surroundings have high radiation dose rate and thorium (Th) anomaly content. This research aim is to determine tectonic setting mechanism which play the important role on the increasing of Th concentration. Six rock samples were analysed using petrography and geochemical analyses (AAS, ICP-MS, NA, and XRF) completed with the 40K-40Ar dating on selected rock samples. Petrography observations show plagioclase, olivine, pyroxene, hornblende, nepheline, and allanite minerals presence in the rocks which identified as nepheline-basanite, basalt, trachybasalt, and gabbro. Numbers of texture appearances in the rocks indicate contamination and changes on tectonic setting. Geochemistry analysis shows that nepheline-basanite, basalt, trachybasalt, and gabbro (absarokite) were formed at the active continental margin (ACM), which is undergoing active subduction (westward subduction) to post-subduction transition. The changing of tectonic setting made magma solidify in extreme conditions. The magma solidify process is interpreted to occur at the age of 13.10-11.02 Ma. These mechanisms play an important role for the increase of thorium concentration in Mamasa and Tana Toraja.

What is the employment potential of a lean platform? The case of Dutch self-employed service professionals

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to study what platform-related user factors influence the employment potential of a lean platform for self-employed professionals.Design/methodology/approachThe article employs the system data of a Dutch platform firm, which include consumers looking for painters (N = 17,224) and self-employed painters (N = 1,752) who pursue client acquisition by submitting proposals (N = 101,974). This data is analysed using non-parametric tests.FindingsStudy of this platform shows that the platform functions as a channel of acquisition for self-employed professionals. This lean platform enables matching of information of supply and demand, thereby facilitating processes of acquisition. The number of competitors, distance to a potential job and non-standard proposals are statistically significant factors that influence whether a consumer is interested in a proposal. Effect sizes are very small.Research limitations/implicationsThis platform is a two-way market for information about service jobs, which excludes a price setting mechanism. The findings of this study cannot be generalized to other forms of platforms.Practical implicationsThe market for service professionals is very local; therefore, the platform firm may alter the algorithm to accommodate this. Self-employed professionals should approach using the platform in the same way as normal forms of acquisition.Social implicationsThis particular type of two-sided market is an extension of regular forms of acquisition by creating “weak ties” through the platform.Originality/valueThe article uses a unique data set to study the impact and limitations of digitalization of the (labour) market for service professionals.

Causes, Scope and Features of Disputes in Budgetary Sphere

The article is devoted to identifying the features of conflicts in the public sector as a basis for disputes, including with the participation of courts. The concept of «public interests» is introduced, on the basis of which the characteristic of disputes in the budgetary sphere is given as a dispute between the parties, relations between which are based on the method of legal inequality. It is concluded that by virtue of the law, the ruling party gives instructions to the subordinate party to do something in relation to the budget, but not always the public interests of the parties to the legal relationship are equally protected by law, which is not sufficiently manifested in the practice of legal support of budgetary activities. Since the efforts of the legislator to regulate budgetary relations are mainly aimed at ensuring procedural activities, they almost do not affect the goal-setting mechanism, so the subordinate party has no opportunity to challenge the management decision that infringes the implementation of the public interests of the subordinate party. By virtue of the above, the courts do not participate in the consideration of issues that go beyond the procedure for spending budget funds and the application of appropriate sanctions. Therefore, frequent cases of arbitrariness of the powerful party in budgetary legal relations remain without proper judicial protection. To solve the problem, it is required to introduce the institution of goal-setting in the budget legislation, so that it will be possible to talk about the proper provision of public interests in the budget sphere.

Review of the Book “Support for Establishing a Minimum Wage-Setting Mechanism in Romania”, Lumen Publishing House, 2017

This paper is a review of the volume “Support for Establishing a Minimum Wage-Setting Mechanism in Romania”, published by Lumen Publishing House from Iași, Romania, in 2017, authored by Madalina Ecaterina Popescu, Eva Militaru, Dan Pele, Miruna Mazurencu Marinescu, Valentina Vasile, Simona Ilie, Adina Mihailescu, Adela Şerban.