SMALL BUSINESS: ILLUSIONS AND REALITY

In post-industrial society, there is an increase in the role of small business as an integral element of the reproduction process. The activities of small and medium-sized businesses in our country are carried out on the basis of the established global trends. Difficulties in the dynamics of this sphere are formed under the influence of increased concentration of production and consolidation of enterprises, which gives rise to a number of problems and contradictions. Considering small business as the most important component of the market economy, its role in solving the problems of creating a competitive environment and ensuring employment should be noted. The scientific literature on the problem under consideration shows the versatility in the authors’ views of the small business role in economic development. This problem is disclosed in sufficient detail in the works of foreign authors (M Weber, J. Gelbraith, P. Drucker, W. Sombart, R. Cantillon, R Coase, J. Keynes, K. Marx, A. Marshall, L. Mises, A. Smith, J. Schumpeter and others). In Russia, L. Abalkin, A. Anchishkin, K. Bazhenov, S. Witte, V. Inozemtsev, M. Lapusta, L. Slutsky, P. Stolypin, M. Tugan-Baranovsky, A. Chayanov and etc. considered this problem. The article reveals the role of small business in the Russian economy, as well as the problems and contradictions of its functioning. On the basis of a systematic analysis of the current trends, the problems, efficiency and significance of small business are identified. Research has shown that the role of small businesses is greatly exaggerated. Small business development acts as a factor in reducing unemployment. In the process of economic activity, a number of problems arise that the enterprises themselves cannot solve. A set of measures is required to support this activity and overcome the crisis. It is important that small and medium-sized enterprises can form their own accumulation fund, which can be used to adapt in the face of stagnation, which will increase the size of the labor force and labor productivity. The crisis of small and medium-sized businesses leads to a multiplier effect in the economy, which reduces the volume of GDP. As a result of the “concentration of capital” among large producers, smallscale production becomes unproductive and unprofitable. The opportunities for obtaining loans from small businesses are very limited. Modern high-tech productive equipment is not available to most. In many enterprises, there is no separation in order to save financial resources on wages. The social security of employees is low. The prosperity of any country in a post-industrial society depends on big business; small business is only an auxiliary sphere of activity. Relying on small business, it is impossible to improve the quality of life, to ensure economic growth and national security. The results of the study can be used in determining the strategic guidelines of economic policy and choosing development priorities.

SMALL BUSINESS AS A BASIS FOR LOGISTIC BARTER

The article analyzes the development of small business using the example of that one in Naberezhnye Chelny. A competitive market is influenced by many factors. These are laws, state policy in the field of small business in the construction sector, as exemplified in this article, a competitive environment. The article presents the impact of Federal Law No. 135 “On Protection of Competition” on the competitive environment, including in construction. In our country,a lot is said about supporting small businesses, there are federal and regional programs. There is also an understanding of what kind of small business it is and what it is for. There are many definitions of small business. Each country has certain criteria for evaluating small businesses. The main thing is that the goal of small business is to increase jobs, and not just to employ people, but to increase the country’s human resources. It should be borne in mind that small businesses respond more quickly to local business conditions. The novelty of the research is that an important point of small business is the creation of a market close to perfect competition, and this is the basis of the concept of logistics barter, which will dominate the economy. The new concept of logistic barter involves the denial of monetary relations between manufacturers in the B2B segment. The B2C segment is not interesting for logistic barter. The money will remain in “households” who care about the market with ideally perfect competition. A market of perfect competition and antitrust laws will work in tandem. Banks will be relevant only for end consumers, namely “households”.

INSTITUTIONS FOR DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN THE VOLGA FEDERAL DISTRICT

The development of an entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial initiative is a priority task for the socio-economic development of the country as a whole and its individual regions. Its implementation is possible, among other things, by supporting and developing entrepreneurial initiatives from the state. At the same time, the sustainability of economic growth in individual regions is largely determined by the effectiveness of the implementation of the economic development strategy adopted at the regional level and the practice of activities of economic entities operating on their territory. The article presents the materials of theoretical studies of areas of activity and empirical studies of the results of the activities of federal institutions created to activate innovative processes and implement investment projects in the regions. The presented results of the analysis of the activities of such institutions, expressed in the types and volumes of state support for economic entities, made it possible to identify and formulate the following conclusions: 1) enterprises of the Volga Federal District actively interact with such organizations and institutions as the autonomous non-profit organization Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects, State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank), “AO Russian Export Center”, “AO Russian Venture Company”, Industrial Development Fund, Fund for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises in Science and Technology, RUSNANO Group; 2) due to active participation in the programs and projects of these organizations, the Volga Federal District is in the group of leaders in terms of the main economic indicators. The practical significance of the obtained research results lies in the formation of an idea of the mechanisms and instruments for the implementation of state support for entrepreneurial initiative, based on the interaction of economic entities with federal development institutions.

IMPROVING THE MECHANISMS FOR CONTROLLING BRENT AND URALS OIL PRICE FORMATION AS A CONDITION FOR STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC SECURITY OF RUSSIA

The authors of the work investigate one of the key areas of the Russian economy - the oil industry. It is hydrocarbons that account, on average, up to 40% of the Russian budget revenues. Oil revenues provide macroeconomic stability of the state, employment of the population in the oil and gas sector and related industries, as well as the stability of the ruble currency in the international market and prices for most types of products in the domestic market. The aim of the work is to study the possibilities of improving the current mechanisms for controlling price formation for key brands of hydrocarbons in order to increase the economic and energy security of the Russian Federation. The scientific study also analyzes the impact of the prices for Urals and Brent crude oil on the Russian ruble quotes against the US dollar and other world currencies. The correlation between the increasing of main oil brands value on the hydrocarbon market and strengthening of the Russian currency, as well as the filling the Reserve and other national funds, as one of the factors in the development of the Russian economy, is studied. The scientific basis of the research was Russian and foreign publications, state statistical materials, opinions and assessments of experts in the field, as well as the authors’ own developments. While studying the materials, the authors considered such indicators as: prices for “Brent”and “Urals” oil, their relationship and the reasons for the fall in prices for gasoline and hydrocarbon-derived materials, as well as the impact on the prices of goods in other economic sectors. The paper studies and selects the most effective responses to changes in the market environment in the context of nonstationary fuel prices.

SPECIFICITY OF HOTEL SERVICE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

This article examines the effectiveness of management and quality improvement due to the various tools considered in the article; it gives recommendations for improving the efficiency of staff, training it for a new level and improve its qualifications and the efficiency of the hotel. In the face of fierce competition, hotel companies come up with and carry out new searches for modern methods of increasing competitiveness between hotel companies and creating demand for hotel services. One of the ways to make a hotel competitive is to enhance the hotel services in the enterprise. Hotel services directly depend on the competence of the staff, on their preparedness and stress resistance. In turn, the hotel company must contain satisfied employees to service hotel guests. Basically, the HR department monitors the number of personnel, their main task is to have as many employees in the company as should be in the staffing table. But now today it is important for the personnel department to achieve not only the timely filling of personnel, but to hire competent employees with good knowledge and qualifications. It is necessary to retain a good worker by offering and developing good working conditions, a system of motivation and quality management. As a result, an agreed personnel policy will be developed, which includes a system of personnel selection, training, improvement, personnel remuneration, as well as an established policy and subordination between management and subordinates. This article examines how, by applying different methods, to build good relationships between employees, to increase the motivation system, and to be a competitive hotel.

CORONAVIRUS IMPACT ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

The article analyzes the consequences of the spread of coronavirus infection on the world economy. The high degree of infection and the rapid spread of COVID-19 caused the quarantine of certain cities and regions of the world, and since March 2020, the borders between the countries have been completely closed. This situation, naturally, could not but affect the global economic activity. The crisis caused by the pandemic has led to the fact that the leaders of the countries were forced to first of all pay attention to health problems and seriously reduce funding in other sectors of the economy. The forced self-isolation regime of the population affected all spheres of life, without exception, large and medium, and, especially, small business suffered. The sectors of the economy most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include: air and road transportation, the leisure and entertainment industry, fitness and sports, tourism, hospitality, catering, the education system, the organization of conferences and exhibitions, the provision of personal services to the population, dentistry, retail trade in non-food products, the media and the production of printed materials, etc. Statistical data on the number of cases of new coronavirus infection by country (as well as those who recovered and died from it) are today not so much of a medical nature as evidence of a deepening global economic crisis. The decline in production volumes on a global scale entails a reduction in the global consumption of most types of industrial raw materials and energy carriers. According to analysts’ forecasts, the possibility of a quick return to the previous economic activity is not foreseen, negative processes may continue for the next several years. The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious test of the readiness of the world economy to effectively resolve global problems, overcome the negative consequences of the spread of the virus and focus on those positive opportunities, the development of which can lead to economic growth in the long term. One of these promising areas of economic development is the further digitalization of society, the development of new digital technologies.

IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF CONCESSION PROJECTS

The purpose of this article is to study the question, to which extent the tasks of transition to sustainable urbanization through high-quality infrastructure investments are taken into account in the framework of concession agreements implemented in Russia. Analysis of the tender documentation for 70 announced tenders for concluding concession agreements showed that the criteria for competitive selection are, as a rule, economic indicators related to the volume of investments, financial obligations of the grantor and the time frame for the creation or reconstruction of the concession object. Environmental and social criteria when concluding concessions are used as long-term regulation parameters and target values for the performance indicators of the concessionaire, mainly in the utilities sector. The article substantiates the need for a transition to a sustainable-oriented approach to the implementation of concession agreements. The principle of project sustainability means that the project uses green technologies (use of energy obtained from renewable sources, environmentally friendly materials, innovative solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, waste, rational use of resources, etc.) and sustainable institutions (rules, contributing to the achievement of social and environmental sustainability). The role of the state in enhancing the environmental sustainability of concession agreements should be to build a system of incentives that will primarily contribute to the initiation of a green multiplier and a more complete provision of environmental and social risks of the project implementation at all stages of its life cycle. This will be facilitated by the inclusion of sustainability criteria in the tender documentation and the assessment of projects at the pre-project stage using the total cost of ownership (TCO) methodology, which takes into account the costs, including for the elimination of negative environmental and social consequences of the concession project implementation. The inclusion of criteria to ensure that environmental requirements are met throughout the supply chain throughout the life of a project will provide multiplier environmental benefits. This will require additional costs on the part of the grantor, but it will create market incentives for environmental innovation and attract additional private investment in quality infrastructure.

EFFECTIVENESS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF APPLYING SPECIALIZATION AND DIVERSIFICATION IN AN INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISE

Today it is getting harder and harder for companies from all over the world to stay in the market, as doing business is associated with great risks. It is especially difficult for young enterprises that have just opened or are at this stage. When a certain group of people make a decision to open an enterprise and run a business, then one of the main questions that, as a rule, should first of all arise for them - what the company will do and according to what strategy it will carry out its main activities. There are a great many development strategies, but the most common of them are two, diversification and specialization. One strategy involves production and trade concentration on one type of goods, while the other strategy is its absolute opposite, as it involves the creation of several product lines that are in no way connected with each other, and the sale of these goods is done to different sales markets. In this article, a comparative analysis of using diversification and specialization strategies was carried out; the analysis was fulfilled on the basis of considering the positive and negative aspects of these strategies. The result of the research was the conclusion that diversification strategy is the more effective than the specialization strategy, since the number of positive and negative aspects of using the diversification strategy is the same, in the case of the specialization strategy, it was found that the number of its disadvantages exceeds the number of advantages from its use. Based on this information, the conclusion of the study was made.

MONITORING HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS IN RURAL AREAS

The article discusses the problems that arise when monitoring the conditions for the development of human capital in rural areas, since, despite the sufficient number of works on monitoring the human capital in rural areas or the agricultural sector, the integral system of quantitative socio-economic indicators for assessing the human capital development conditions in rural areas remains poorly studied. First of all, a basic concept of monitoring is given, as well as an applied concept - monitoring the human capital development conditions in rural areas, which is understood as a system of constant monitoring, collection, registration, storage and analysis of several key parameters that assess the conditions for the formation and development of congenital and accumulated physical, mental and personal abilities and qualities of the population of rural areas, as well as acquiring knowledge and skills that can be used by them in order to deliver economic income or social effect. The monitoring process is presented in detail in the relationship of this category with concepts close to it (diagnostics, as a preliminary stage, monitoring as the main stage, appropriate policy development, as the final stage). The diversity of monitoring indicators used in the social sphere of human life is reflected: for rural areas, for the agrarian sphere, for the regional socio-economic system, for the development of municipalities' social and labor systems, for social factors of the region's development, etc. The authors' idea of an integral system of indicators for monitoring the human capital development conditions in rural areas is given, which is a combination of six blocks: health care, education, culture and sports, demography and migration, infrastructure, as well as socio-economic conditions.

MORE ON THE QUESTION OF RURAL AREAS MULTIFUNCTIONALITY

The approaches of Russian and foreign scientists to studying rural areas multifunctionality differ significantly. Domestic researchers consider this problem from the standpoint of public goods in agricultural production, agricultural production diversification, rural population livelihoods, land use, and sustainable development of rural areas. In all cases, we are talking about implementation of functions within rural areas without raising the question of buying and selling their intangible attributes. In foreign publications, two pragmatic approaches are seen within the concept of multifunctionality. The first approach is the market perception of rural areas as consumer spaces. In this case, the intangible attributes of the territories (landscape, nature, heritage or culture) are considered as a sold and bought product. The second approach is an approach from the standpoint of protection against negative market consequences in international food trade. The non-productive functions of agriculture are taken into account in the WTO negotiations as non-trade factors. This helps to protect the agriculture of many countries from the destructive effects of foreign trade. The article proposes to move from staged studies of the issue of multifunctionality to a constructive consideration of the material and non-material potential for implementing the rural areas' production and non-production functions. The purpose of the study is to determine the material and non-material basis of rural areas multifunctionality using the example of the North-West of Russia. The objectives of the study are to establish the capabilities of rural areas to perform their functions of: a) the international, b) the federal, c) the regional and d) the local significance; and on the basis of the idea of multifunctionality, to determine the ways for creating consumer spaces in rural areas. The following methods were used: decomposition of goals, the index one, the monographic and the grouping method. We used the materials by: Rosstat, Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Ministry of Culture of Russia. Municipal areas with the orientation of agricultural products to the international, federal and regional markets have been identified. The characteristic of intangible attributes - the carriers of non-production functions of rural areas for the international, federal, regional and local levels - was given. The objects of specially protected natural areas and objects of cultural heritage are considered in accordance with their level of importance. The sequence of forming the consumer spaces in rural areas has been established in the direction from defining a geographical image through creating an image to developing a brand.