Problems of Implementation of the State Youth Policy in the Reflection of Regional Youth

Introduction. The relevance of the research is due to the modern transformation of the institute of state youth policy, the change in its functions, and the need to reflect on the results of outgoing forms of administration and work with youth. Based on the conducted research, the article assesses the satisfaction of young people with the organization of the main measures to support all of their life strategies implemented by the governing bodies in the field of state youth policy. Materials and Methods. The results of a survey of young people aged 16 to 30, conducted in the Belgorod Region in 2020-2021, were used as the research materials. Based on the developed tools, including using online forms, 866 respondents were interviewed; students and working youth were interviewed through a street survey. The uniformity of diagnostics for each life strategy made it possible to obtain a comparative evaluation matrix in all areas of the state youth policy. Results. Regional Russian youth have given a reflexive assessment of the key problematic points in the implementation of the state youth policy and youth support; their interest in and the potential of involvement in activities and projects related to youth issues have been revealed. A map of youth satisfaction with the activities proposed by the governing bodies in the field of the state youth policy has been drawn. Discussion and Conclusion. The youth satisfaction with the situation that exists today in the field of state youth policy management is assessed as quite low, which makes it possible to conclude that the proposed measures are insufficiently effective and to raise the question of proposing new formats and strategies for developing work with youth. The research materials may be in demand by state youth policy administration bodies, state and municipal government bodies, youth organizations, and educational institutions. The data obtained can be a scientific increment for sectoral sociology (sociology of youth) in the methodological and demonstrative terms.

Geography of Tourist Flows in the Republic of Mordovia

Introduction. The topic is of relevance due to the need to study tourist flows in terms of the geography of tourist trips in order to analyze and compare the directions of the flows. The problem is that the authorities responsible for tourism management in the region and tourism organizations do not always pay due attention to the geography of the tourist flow and to its optimization in terms of the interests of the region itself. At the same time, the identified trends can be taken into consideration in order to improve and increase the efficiency of the tourism industry in the region and when making managerial decisions in the tourism sector. Based on the results of the study conducted, the article characterizes the travel destinations of Mordovian tourists, reveals trends, and proposes measures to solve the identified problems. Materials and Methods. The materials on the development of tourism in the Republic of Mordovia published by the Territorial Body of the State Statistics Service in the Republic of Mordovia for the period from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed; data from the Digital Tourism service run by MegaFon mobile phone operator were also examined. The methods of mathematical statistics employed made it possible to calculate the changes in the relative and absolute indicators of the geography of the tourist flow in the republic over a ten-year period. To identify the geography of the regional tourist flow, the methods of analysis and generalization were used, which made it possible to identify the features of the internal and external tourist flows of people living in Mordovia. Results. An analysis of the dynamics and placement of inbound and outbound tourism has been carried out; the volume of the tourist flow has been considered; the features of the geography of the tourist flows have been considered; the problems that hinder the more effective development of tourism in the republic have been revealed. The measures aimed at improving the efficiency of tourism activities in the region have been proposed. Discussion and Conclusion. The study made it possible to identify the main trends in the geography of the tourist flows of residents of Mordovia, as well as the causes and features of the ongoing transformations. The results of the study can contribute to the elaboration of an effective program for the development of tourism in the republic, to the adoption of productive managerial decisions in the field of tourism in the region, and to optimization of the geography of the tourist flows.

Environmental and Economic Prerequisites for Russiaʼs Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

Introduction. Environmental and climatic problems of the Russian Federation have attracted considerable attention from scientists, politicians, as well as the general public. Human activities are a major cause of pollution and global warming, which necessitates the search for a new way of economic development reducing the adverse impact on the environment. The authors consider a low-carbon economy aimed at simultaneously solving economic, environmental, and climatic problems as such a guideline. Based on the research conducted the article identifies the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in which pilot projects for the transition of enterprises and cities to low-carbon development are most expedient to implement. The gained experience should be applied in other regions of the country in the future. Materials and Methods. Data from the Federal State Statistics Service and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation on 20 most populated constituent entities of the country were analyzed. In order to identify the regions with the largest volumes of various types of pollution, the data ranking method was applied. The authors have also carried out an analysis of relative indicators of natural resource intensity associated with emission into the atmosphere, discharges of polluted wastewater, and production of municipal solid waste. Results. The performed analysis has shown the heterogeneity of the environmental and economic development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It has been concluded that among the regions considered, it is most expedient to implement pilot projects for low-carbon development in cities and in “polluting” industries located in the Kemerovo, Sverdlovsk, and Chelyabinsk Regions, as well as in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study can be used in the development of environmental programs, as well as in the development of directions for mitigating the environmental impact in the most polluted regions of the country and in industries with high natural resource intensity.

Regions of the North-West of Russia: Analysis of the Conditions for the Implementation of Social Innovation

Introduction. International experience shows that social innovation is an important tool for regional development, although this type of innovation is a relatively new phenomenon for Russia. On the basis of the research conducted, the article analyzes the conditions for the implementation of social innovation which has a significant potential to meet the challenges of territorial development. Materials and Methods. Based on materials from open sources, as well as on an expert survey conducted by the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences with the direct participation of the author, the conditions for the implementation of social innovation prevailing in the constituent entities of the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation were analyzed in the context of legal, infrastructural, economic, and socio-cultural components. Using the results of the expert survey, a quantitative assessment of the level of development of the conditions for the implementation of social innovation was given. The main barriers preventing the reproduction of social innovation within the territory under consideration were revealed. Results. The study has revealed that in the regions of the Northwestern Federal District the conditions for the implementation of social innovation are at the stage of active development: infrastructure and legislation are being formed; financial, tax and property support is being provided; educational programs are being implemented. The study has also shown that there are a number of problematic aspects associated with the underdevelopment of the regulatory framework, with the lack of Centers for innovation in the social sphere in a number of constituent entities, with the limited availability of some financial instruments, with low social and innovative activity of people, etc. Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained are supported by other studies, which substantiates the need for policy adjustment towards improving the relevant regulatory framework, economic conditions, infrastructure, and socio-cultural environment. The research materials can be used by regional authorities when making managerial decisions to support social innovation; they can also be useful for further studies within the framework of the issues under consideration.

Regional Investment Market in the Sphere of Waste Management: Dynamics, Structure, Evaluation Methodology

Introduction. Developing environmental entrepreneurship and attracting investments in the sphere of waste management are relevant for increasing the sustainability of economic systems in the circumstances of catastrophic environmental pollution, climate change, and depletion of natural resources. Based on the conducted research, the article assesses the impact of industrial and consumer waste generation on the development of the regional investment market in the sphere of waste management. Materials and Methods. A systemic analysis of the databases of the Federal State Statistics Service characterizing the development of the investment market in the sphere of waste management was performed using the correlation, factor, and regression (linear and nonlinear) methods of analysis, as well as the analysis of variance. On the basis of econometric dynamic modeling using instrumental variables, the study has revealed the dependence of the volume of investment in fixed assets in the Russian Federation aimed at environmental protection and rational use of natural resources on the volume and structure of generated industrial and consumer waste. Results. The volume of investment in fixed assets in the Russian Federation aimed at environmental protection and rational use of natural resources has been prognosticated taking into account the statistical criteria; conclusions have been drawn about strong influence of the dynamics of industrial and consumer waste generation. Based on the conducted research, proposals for increasing investment activity in the sphere of waste management have been formulated. Discussion and Conclusion. The sphere of waste management has a high development potential enabling this sector of the Russian economy, with appropriate competent investment policy, to solve not only environmental, but also significant macroeconomic problems. The results obtained can be used when elaborating and implementing measures aimed at the development of a waste management system, the key exogenous parameter of which, determining the magnitude of the macroeconomic effect, is the volume of investment in the production of waste collection and processing equipment.

Regions of the North-West of Russia: Analysis of the Conditions for the Implementation of Social Innovation

Introduction. International experience shows that social innovation is an important tool for regional development, although this type of innovation is a relatively new phenomenon for Russia. On the basis of the research conducted, the article analyzes the conditions for the implementation of social innovation which has a significant potential to meet the challenges of territorial development. Materials and Methods. Based on materials from open sources, as well as on an expert survey conducted by the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences with the direct participation of the author, the conditions for the implementation of social innovation prevailing in the constituent entities of the Northwestern Federal District of the Russian Federation were analyzed in the context of legal, infrastructural, economic, and socio-cultural components. Using the results of the expert survey, a quantitative assessment of the level of development of the conditions for the implementation of social innovation was given. The main barriers preventing the reproduction of social innovation within the territory under consideration were revealed. Results. The study has revealed that in the regions of the Northwestern Federal District the conditions for the implementation of social innovation are at the stage of active development: infrastructure and legislation are being formed; financial, tax and property support is being provided; educational programs are being implemented. The study has also shown that there are a number of problematic aspects associated with the underdevelopment of the regulatory framework, with the lack of Centers for innovation in the social sphere in a number of constituent entities, with the limited availability of some financial instruments, with low social and innovative activity of people, etc. Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained are supported by other studies, which substantiates the need for policy adjustment towards improving the relevant regulatory framework, economic conditions, infrastructure, and socio-cultural environment. The research materials can be used by regional authorities when making managerial decisions to support social innovation; they can also be useful for further studies within the framework of the issues under consideration.

Effective Use of Human Capital in the Context of Sustainable Development of the Region

Introduction. Sustainable development is Russia's strategic goal at the national and regional levels. Currently, its key factor is innovation, which, in turn, is determined by the availability of sufficient amount of human capital, it being a set of knowledge, skills and abilities, including the ability of a person to generate ideas, create innovations, and bring them to production. Although Russia has a fairly large amount of human capital, its economy is experiencing difficulties in shifting to the innovation-driven model. Based on the conducted research, the article evaluates effectiveness of the use of human capital and analyzes the causes of the existing contradiction. Materials and Methods. The theoretical foundations of the study include the works of Russian and foreign academic economists, generalization and critical analysis of which made it possible to show the indirect impact of human capital on sustainable development. Based on data from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, its territorial offices and the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation, the efficiency of the use of human capital by Russian regions was calculated employing the index method and it was compared with the level of the socio-economic development. Results. The level of innovation activity in Russia’s regions remains low. Innovation has not become a driving force for sustainable development. One of the reasons for this is low effectiveness of the use of human capital. Calculations of this indicator, carried out according to the adopted methodology, make it possible to conclude that Russia’s regions use slightly more than half of the accumulated human capital. Consequently, there are reserves for boosting innovation activity. Indirectly, this is evidenced by the comparison of the level of socio-economic development of the region and the index of effectiveness of the use of human capital. Discussion and Conclusion. The conducted research makes it possible to conclude that increasing effectiveness of the use of human capital will contribute to the growth of innovation in the economy of the regions and thereby facilitate the transition to the model of sustainable development.

Schoolchildren’s Health Preservation Habitus: From the Family Model to the National One

Introduction. The family forms the habitus of the child's health-preserving behavior: the presence or absence of bad habits, involvement in sports, food preferences, and the attitude to disease prevention. The article, based on the conducted research, identifies the dependence of various parameters of the health of school-age children on the socio-biological well-being of the family, its lifestyle, life support conditions that contribute to the implementation of family health-preserving practices. Materials and Methods. The research materials used were the data from a survey conducted in 2019 by the Center for Family and Demography Center of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences among parents of students of lyceums, grammar schools, and general education schools, including those with in-depth study of specific subjects (city of Kazan, Arsk and Chistopol municipal districts of the Republic of Tatarstan). The total population of parents of students was 433,706 people, the selection was 325 people. The value, social activity, and generation approaches within the sociological discourse on health issues are aimed at identifying the social determinants of various parameters of adolescent health and their health preservation habitus. Results. The study has identified a number of factors that determine the lifestyle of modern schoolchildren and have a negative impact on their health in the context of significant academic loads, intensification of the educational process, and involvement in intense extra-curricular activities: non-compliance with age regulations of the daily routine; low motor activity; unsatisfactory organization and deterioration of the quality of nutrition in the family; habitus of parents’ behavior, not focused on health preservation. Discussion and Conclusion. The conducted research provides scientific substantiation of and emphasizes the need for measures aimed at increasing physical activity and healthy nutrition of both younger and older schoolchildren in the context of the demographic crisis. Practical application of the conclusions drawn in this study involves formulation of proposals for improving the effectiveness of managerial decisions taken by ministries and departments of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Self-Employment in the Non-Observed Economy and Its Impact on Economic Growth: A Meta-Analysis

Introduction. The study was motivated by the ambiguity in assessing the impact of self-employment on economic growth, especially in terms of non-observed self-employment. According to the research hypothesis, informal self-employment contributes to economic growth. Based on the results of the study conducted, the article summarizes and systematizes the theoretical views of scientists on the assessment of the nature of the impact of informal self-employment on economic growth. Materials and Methods. Scientific papers published in 2000–2020 in journals indexed by Scopus and Web of Science formed the theoretical basis of the study. The choice of this time period was justified by significant changes in the labor market caused by the increase in the number of self-employed people. The key method employed was meta-analysis of empirical research papers on the issues under study. This method makes it possible to generalize, evaluate, and analyze the results of empirical research, objectively identifying the regularities existing between research results and sources of disagreement. Results. An analysis of the essence of the concept of non-observed economy has been presented; the peculiarity of informal self-employment, as part of the non-observed economy, has been revealed. The points of view on the impact of the non-observed economy on economic growth have been considered; arguments from both points of view and the results of research on different countries, including Russia, have been presented. It has also been shown which research methods were used by various authors to assess the dependence of shadow self-employment. The studies that have the greatest effectiveness and universality in terms of possible practical use of the results obtained have been highlighted. The prerequisites and features of the formation of informal self-employment have been identified, its impact on economic growth has been estimated. Discussion and Conclusion. Recommendations for further theoretical and methodological research of the considered issues have been produced. The conclusions and results obtained can be useful in the further development of the Russian system of regulating the activities of self-employed people, since its effective construction requires scientific study and methodological substantiation of various options for its development using the experience of other countries.

Professional Role Functions of Women in Social Service: Results of a Sociological Survey in Moscow

Introduction. Women predominate among the employees in the social service sector, they occupy various positions and perform relevant functions, but the specifics and problems of their work have not been sufficiently studied. Based on the materials of the conducted sociological survey, the article analyzes how social workers perform the main work tasks, how well they manage to combine professional role functions with family ones, which contributes to their satisfaction with their work. Materials and Methods. The applied research, conducted by the author in the autumn of 2020 in Moscow, used official documents, statistical data, her own sociological survey, and a comparative analysis of the results of secondary empirical studies. 107 employees of state social service organizations took part in the survey, almost equally representing the management staff, specialists, and ordinary employees. This made it possible not only to generalize various status and gender positions regarding the role of women in the implementation of social service in the relevant institutions, but also, based on the results of the analysis, to suggest possible ways to improve the professional qualifications of female employees for more effective implementation of their work functions. Results. A comparison of the responses of representatives of different status and gender groups showed that the range of professional functions of the object of this research is quite wide: from the head to the service personnel, from working with documents to providing specific social services to various groups of people in need or in a difficult life situation. At all the levels, women are represented in accordance with their professional and personal qualities. However, according to the self-assessment, combining professional and family responsibilities is most difficult for a female senior or middle-level manager. Discussion and Conclusion. The author proposes to create conditions for optimizing the workload, for preventing physical fatigue and emotional burnout of women providing social services, as well as for effective combining their professional roles with family ones, and for professional development. The article will be useful to employees providing social services, those who specialize in the field of gender issues of employment, senior personnel of the social protection system of the population at the regional level, teachers engaged in further vocational education.