February 15
- Human Capital: The Keystone of the Future Economy in the Russian Far East The key driver of a new, knowledge-based economy is human capital, an area where investments can contribute to a country’s social and economic development. Human capital plays a vital role in the development of new economy of the Russian Far East....
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The key driver of a new, knowledge-based economy is human capital, an area where investments can contribute to a country’s social and economic development. Human capital plays a vital role in the development of new economy of the Russian Far East. The large-scale creation of new production facilities in the Far East, initiated as a result of new development mechanisms, has brought to the forefront questions of how the macroregion can attract and retain the workforce it requires, how young specialists can be trained in areas that are in demand, and how conditions conducive to doing business can be maintained. By 2025, there will already be more than 115,000 new modern and highly productive jobs in the Russian Far East. How can we develop and invest in human capital in the Russian Far East? How can regions accumulate and develop their human capital and come out on top in the competition for people? How will businesses in the future economy ensure the growth of human capital? What modern tools and approaches can be used to assess the level of human capital?
- A New Format for EAEU Cooperation: Industrial Subcontracting and Cooperation Together with technology transfer, industrial subcontracting and cooperation have already long been widely used in developed industrial nations to achieve high levels of efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing. By 2019 it is planned that w...
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Together with technology transfer, industrial subcontracting and cooperation have already long been widely used in developed industrial nations to achieve high levels of efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing. By 2019 it is planned that work will be complete on a Eurasian network for industrial cooperation and subcontracting, which will help to optimize production processes and significantly increase competitiveness, both at the level of individual businesses and at the regional level, to raise efficiency at manufacturing plants as a whole, and to free up organizational, financial, and human resources which can then be used to develop new areas of activity. What role might a new mechanism for integration play? How will a new format for collaboration impact the industrial and economic development of EAEU member states?
- Russia’s Taxation System: Meeting the Challenges The Russian taxation system has traversed a long path over the course of its existence. Much experience has been gathered and an enormous amount of work done, but new times present us with new challenges. New technologies mean that modifications t...
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The Russian taxation system has traversed a long path over the course of its existence. Much experience has been gathered and an enormous amount of work done, but new times present us with new challenges. New technologies mean that modifications to tax policy are required, while globalization processes are leading to competition between jurisdictions. The search is ongoing for an optimal balance that will ensure the taxation system is effective for both business and government.
Can tax policy be modified to stimulate economic growth without losing revenue? Is it necessary to develop mechanisms for counteracting the minimization of the tax burden, or can these reductions be used to increase the attractiveness of Russia as a tax jurisdiction? Are a single code and a single administrator necessary in order to regulate the various fiscal payments? How can a system be created that minimizes administrative costs for taxpayers? What approach should be taken with regard to federal incentives that relate to taxes which contribute to regional budgets? Should help go to businesses or regions? Basing regional budgets on income tax leads to a growth in inequality and places a heavy burden on taxpayers, but how can the system be replaced, and is this possible in principle? In what direction is tax legislation developing: towards establishing common principles or towards detailed regulation for a variety of situations? In his message to the Federal Assembly in December 2016, the President of the Russian Federation said that we must orientate our tax policy towards the central objective of stimulating business activity, economic growth, and investment. This year – 2018 – will be a year for decisions.
- Prospects for Collaboration between Government and Business in Disaster Reduction The second half of the twentieth century saw an upward trend in the number of major disasters, both natural and manmade. In Russia alone, the cost of damage directly and indirectly resulting from extreme situations of various kinds could reach up ...
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The second half of the twentieth century saw an upward trend in the number of major disasters, both natural and manmade. In Russia alone, the cost of damage directly and indirectly resulting from extreme situations of various kinds could reach up to 2% of national GDP. Today, it is more effective to invest in reducing the risk of a disaster than it is to struggle with the consequences of one. If a positive effect is to be achieved in this area, it is extremely important that government and business collaborate on a constructive basis. What measures must a government take to motivate business to invest in disaster protection? What has been achieved in a year of monitoring and oversight activity? How can administrative costs for business be reduced? Could preventive work carried out on business facilities become an alternative to checks?
- New Regional Policy: Continuity or Change? The sustainable development of the regions is one of the most important priorities of the Russian Federation’s state policy. The country’s economic development, the social standing of its citizens, and the territorial integrity of the state all de...
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The sustainable development of the regions is one of the most important priorities of the Russian Federation’s state policy. The country’s economic development, the social standing of its citizens, and the territorial integrity of the state all depend on this policy. At the same time, human capital, infrastructure, manufacturing, and natural resources are distributed extremely unevenly across the country, creating a unique set of competitive advantages, opportunities, and challenges for each region. In spring 2018, the Government of the Russian Federation is putting the final touches on a spatial development strategy (SDS). Will the SDS become the basis of a new regional policy? What priorities for the development of the regions does it allocate? Which territories are supposed to become drivers of national and regional economic growth in the near future? Which regions and territories will require special attention and support? What infrastructural constraints need to be alleviated first? What tools will make it possible to reveal the socioeconomic potential of the regions? Where can the necessary resources be found? What is the best way to transition from interregional competition to cooperation?
- The Future of Open and Digital Public Administration Amidst complex social processes and new economic challenges, the need to ensure that government authorities’ work is done openly represents an important challenge. This is especially necessary at the regional and municipal levels in Russia. Citize...
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Amidst complex social processes and new economic challenges, the need to ensure that government authorities’ work is done openly represents an important challenge. This is especially necessary at the regional and municipal levels in Russia. Citizens are increasingly voicing demands to be able to interact directly with government bodies. Open government is gradually transforming into an open state – one which is closer to people and which makes use of new digital technologies. Concepts like ‘government in your pocket’ and ‘single window’ are now leading global trends. Large volumes of open data serve as a basis for interaction and a foundation for digital government. What image of the future does such a system have to offer in terms of the next political cycle? What are the challenges facing regional authorities in this respect? What does the federal government need to do to transition to new cycle?
- Single-Industry Towns: Let’s Plan the Future In partnership with Single-Industry Town Development Foundation A year ago, the mayors of single-industry towns were presented with some specific challenges. Work is not, however, progressing at the same speed and level of efficiency in every single-industry town, and the efforts of regional and municipal auth...
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A year ago, the mayors of single-industry towns were presented with some specific challenges. Work is not, however, progressing at the same speed and level of efficiency in every single-industry town, and the efforts of regional and municipal authorities are not always sufficient. What have been the outcomes of implementing the Programme in 2017? What results have single-industry towns and regions been able to achieve? What types of collaboration between regional and municipal authorities and business have proven the most effective? What is the best way to harness the initiative of active citizens, and how can the residents of single-industry towns be encouraged to get involved in development efforts?
- The Regional Budget. Spending Can’t be Saved Regional authorities are today called upon to ensure integrated and proportional regional development, and the coordinating function they play in the economic and social development of regions is expanding significantly. Under these present-day co...
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Regional authorities are today called upon to ensure integrated and proportional regional development, and the coordinating function they play in the economic and social development of regions is expanding significantly. Under these present-day conditions, regions and their budgets find themselves in a double trap. On the one hand, a number of the country’s regions owe significant debts to the federal centre, necessitating reductions in expenditure. At the same time, spending cuts are having a negative effect on a range of key items, including investment in the development of infrastructure and the chance to raise living standards and quality of life for the population. Is it possible for regions to combine their efforts in order to solve large-scale challenges? Are interbudgetary transfers an effective tool for development or for reducing regional poverty? What key practices exist globally for combatting ineffective regional debt policy?
- Transforming Public Administration. Initial Results and Looming Challenges In autumn 2016, the Russian Government launched a portfolio of priority projects and programmes. What changes have governmental bodies succeeded in introducing to their work? What have been the initial results of implementing project management to...
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In autumn 2016, the Russian Government launched a portfolio of priority projects and programmes. What changes have governmental bodies succeeded in introducing to their work? What have been the initial results of implementing project management tools in ‘pilot’ government programmes?
What positive outcomes have been achieved for citizens and entrepreneurs? What progress is being made to ensure constructive collaboration between the state, business, and citizens in implementing projects and effective feedback systems (comparing experiences and reviewing best practices among Russian regions)?
February 16
- Regulating the Digital Economy: Problems and Prospects In December the Russian government approved a plan to develop legislation on regulating the digital economy. The plan includes more than 50 packages of legislative measures designed to remove key barriers on the path to nationwide digitization. Th...
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In December the Russian government approved a plan to develop legislation on regulating the digital economy. The plan includes more than 50 packages of legislative measures designed to remove key barriers on the path to nationwide digitization. There are also plans for the simultaneous development of concept papers addressing how the Russian legal system as a whole can be transformed to make it more flexible in the context of an ever-changing world, and how to regulate the use of ‘cross-cutting’ technologies on a systematic basis. Are all priority measures for developing the digital economy covered by the plan? What other regulatory issues need to be resolved with respect to the challenges posed by the digital economy? How can regulation be implemented in a changing environment, and how can the process of establishing regulations be made more dynamic? What alternative means and methods of regulation are needed?
- Investment in Russia’s Regions: Has the Work of Management Teams Changed? Managing regional development is a key challenge on today’s agenda, and a positive solution to this issue is vital for the continued development of Russia as a whole. A vital role in any management process is played by people, the quality of their...
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Managing regional development is a key challenge on today’s agenda, and a positive solution to this issue is vital for the continued development of Russia as a whole. A vital role in any management process is played by people, the quality of their professional training, and their teamwork skills. Increasing the quality of human resources is a standalone challenge – as well as a key investment in Russia’s regions. A major factor in the development of regional workforces should not only be the performance of regional teams, but also the desire of the majority to become one unified team, and to continue cooperating for mutual development to the benefit of Russia’s regions and the country as a whole. What new professional demands are being made of the leadership of Russia’s regions?
Do effective mechanisms exist for attracting and retaining highly qualified staff in the regions? What educational technologies need to be used to train leaders in order to ensure the development at a regional level? The relationship between management effectiveness and regional investment – is there a dependency?
- Regional Investment Cooperation as Part of the Belt and Road Initiative In order to achieve a sustainable rate of development, Russia’s regions need a constant influx of investment, and the battle for this is a strategic challenge facing any region, irrespective of how much financial aid it receives. The investment bu...
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In order to achieve a sustainable rate of development, Russia’s regions need a constant influx of investment, and the battle for this is a strategic challenge facing any region, irrespective of how much financial aid it receives. The investment budget for the Belt and Road Initiative is estimated to be a colossal sum – USD 900 billion. These funds will be used to finance more than 900 separate projects across 65 countries. In order to manage these investment streams, a powerful funding infrastructure has been created, enabling the foundations to be laid for a new wave of investment in the region. Such associations as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Greater Eurasian Partnership have been formed in order to establish connections across the continent which will facilitate trade and the implementation of all kinds of exchange between countries. The support of digital platforms has made it possible to transfer these processes to the regional level within individual countries. Direct regional trade and investment links between states are becoming a significant trend in contemporary international economic cooperation. What factors could facilitate an expansion of investment as part of the Belt and Road Initiative in Russia? What role has been envisaged for the EAEU and Greater Eurasian Partnership with respect to investment activity in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative? What prospects does investment through the Belt and Road Initiative offer Russia’s regions?
- Digitize or Die. Best Practices for Digitizing Major Businesses In partnership with Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) The spread of technology and the digitization of ever more aspects of our lives are facilitating national socioeconomic development. It is not only the efficiency of production that is on the increase, but also the transparency of operations and r...
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The spread of technology and the digitization of ever more aspects of our lives are facilitating national socioeconomic development. It is not only the efficiency of production that is on the increase, but also the transparency of operations and relationships between actors. On 28 July 2017, the ‘Digital Economy of the Russian Federation’ programme was approved. One of the key prerequisites for its implementation is the creation of necessary and sufficient infrastructure, aimed at removing existing obstacles and restrictions holding back the establishment and growth of high-tech businesses, and preventing new barriers from emerging. How can the necessary infrastructure for a digital economy be created within Russia? What is necessary for this?
- Project Management as a Tool for Attracting Investment: Best Regional Practices Project management in the public sector has already ceased to be considered a new management paradigm; it can now be said with some certainty that project management is the next important stage in establishing a management culture within governmen...
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Project management in the public sector has already ceased to be considered a new management paradigm; it can now be said with some certainty that project management is the next important stage in establishing a management culture within government bodies. Analyses of practices for implementing project management within the public and corporate sectors reveal how far the development of decision-making systems has progressed, how well established tools for the non-material motivation of project participants have become, and how tools are used to rank projects on the basis of their social significance, level of complexity, and so on. All of this demonstrates that project management is fully compatible with the established system and organizational structure of the public sector and achieves positive results, including from the point of view of attracting investors to implement new projects. Could project management in the public sector serve as an engine for solving priority state issues? What regional and corporate experience could be used in Russia to help establish an effective project management system in the public sector?
- A New EAEU Customs Code as an Opportunity for Improving the Investment Climate The Eurasian Economic Union Customs Code Agreement envisages a gradual liberalization of customs regulations and the creation of more comfortable conditions for doing business. The customs system will in effect be transitioning to a radically new ...
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The Eurasian Economic Union Customs Code Agreement envisages a gradual liberalization of customs regulations and the creation of more comfortable conditions for doing business. The customs system will in effect be transitioning to a radically new level of functionality, with customs operations improved by the implementation of data management systems which do not require the involvement of customs officials, the translation of customs procedures into electronic versions, the priority replacement of paper with modern technology, increased legal significance for preliminary information, expanded opportunities for releasing goods prior to the submission of a declaration, increased status for authorized economic operators, and an expansion of simplifications made available to them here and in a number of other areas. This liberalization and the increased level of unification of customs regulations enshrined in the new EAEU Customs Code is intended to ensure more comfortable conditions for bona fide economic operators to conduct business activities. In what major respects does the new EAEU Code differ from the former Eurasian Customs Union Code? What regulations in the new EAEU Customs Code have made the greatest contribution to simplifying business operations? How does the new EAEU Customs Code expand opportunities for authorized economic operators? In what ways has the EAEU Customs Code ensured deeper unification of customs regulations within the EAEU?
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Managing Change: Initial Outcomes of Implementing Goal-Oriented Models in Russia’s Regions In 2017, Russia’s regions began implementing goal-oriented models for improving the investment climate. Successful economic development in the regions is dependent in part on the creation of a favourable investment climate by regional authorities....11:00–12:30
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In 2017, Russia’s regions began implementing goal-oriented models for improving the investment climate. Successful economic development in the regions is dependent in part on the creation of a favourable investment climate by regional authorities. A goal-oriented model is a kind of workflow algorithm which aims to solve the current problems faced by investors in regions, including connecting facilities to communications systems, access to land, and other issues. The initial outcomes of implementing goal-oriented models on the ground are already being felt, making it possible to evaluate the current state of the investment climate in Russia’s regions. Regions have also adopted parameters at different speeds, and not all goal-oriented models have proven straightforward to implement. How are entrepreneurs evaluating the outcomes of implementing goal-oriented models? What are the prospects for implementing goal-oriented models at the next stages?
