Moscow University Bulletin. Economics. 2022. 4.

The article examines certain pressing problems of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and considers many international trends including such as a long-term trend towards a decreasing role of FDI movement and a relative decrease in the role of global value chains (GVCs). The author provides a non-customary approach to the study. The author argues that many negative trends are interconnected, in particular with high global instability together with other well-known factors. The article pays particular attention to the experience of certain countries (Japan, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea) in the field of FDI import and import substitution. Drawing on the experience of these countries, the author suggests certain economic recommendations to Russia’s regulators. The review attempts to rethink the role of FDI, GVC, import substitution and other phenomena and to provide a new analysis of them in today’s conditions and circumstances. The article touches upon a long period of high volatility and economic crises in Russia’s and foreign economy (for over 10 years). Taking into account many years of the author’s experience in the Russian business and in the Russian banking sphere, the author comes to the conclusion that rethinking certain principles of national economic policy is required. This article deals with estimates of key indicators published by international bodies, such as World Bank and UNCTAD.

The analysis of cross-network effects is important in considering the impossibility of their direct observation and the impact of cross-network effects on the values of all tests in competition policy, pricing practice and merger valuation. The article summarizes the experience of quantifying cross-network effects for non-transactional platforms. This paper systematizes the methods for assessing cross-network effects (regression equation systems, features of data collection, control variables) used in the study of the mutual influence of the media audience (newspapers, magazines, television channels) and advertising. The results of the analysis reflect the technical feasibility of this task and the requirements for the initial data and expert competences in the application of quantitative methods. The article summarizes the results of empirical estimates which in most cases coincide with the predictions of the theory about the sign (direction) of cross-network effects.

Since February-March of 2022 some large social media and digital platforms are no longer legally available in the Russian segment of the Internet. Digital protectionism and sanctions lead to “new restrictions” in social media markets which directly and indirectly affect the production in the real sector of the economy. The purpose of this article is to analyze the current situation in social media markets from the point of view of users and market players, and to identify the med-term development trends. Based on the experience of foreign countries (Iran and China), as well as on the analysis of the existing restrictions, it was found that network effects, the necessity of using a VPN and economic incentives (the availability of a mechanism for promoting content, advertising and monetization) have a stronger impact on the blocked or restricted digital service presence than its formal blocking. For digital protectionism to lead to a long-term sustainable development there should be a framework strategy with goals incorporating the market parties’ goals. Otherwise, with exclusively an ad hoc response, the industry is not able to create globally competitive services.

The paper analyses the longest-running regional integration project on the post-Soviet space — the Union State of Russia and Belarus. The results of the integration process indicate that Russian-Belarusian economic integration has a reverse nature. One of the priorities of the integration interaction between Russia and Belarus has been the formation and coordination of “roadmaps” (“Union Programmes”) in order to activate the draft “Action Program of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus” to implement the provisions on the establishment of the Union State. The article records the attitude of Russian enterprises to the main measures included in the roadmaps, as well as the general perception of the process of economic integration of Russia and Belarus by the enterprises of the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The article is structured as follows: first, it analyzes the process of economic integration of Russia and Belarus within the framework of the Union State. Second, it provides the description of the research design and characteristics of the sample. And finally, it answers the question whether the perception of Russian regional business has any effects on the economic integration within the framework of the Union State. The research method is a semi-structured focused interview with representatives of the Sverdlovsk Region's enterprises operating in Belarus. The sample included 45 enterprises, with 23 enterprises taking part in the research. According to the respondents, the process of economic integration within the Union State, officially initiated by the governments of Russia and Belarus, does not help to remove barriers to the interaction of Russian and Belarusian companies

In modern conditions, Russia has increased the need to expand the scale of import substitution and increase the level of self-sufficiency, including food. The possibilities of achieving these goals are considered in this paper on the example of such a mass-demand product as apples. The spread of ideas about a healthy lifestyle and the usefulness of fruits stimulates a steady increase in demand for apples all over the world, including Russia. Moreover, from the point of view of natural and climatic conditions, the country has a significant potential for increasing the volume of production of fresh apples. In recent years, thanks to the policy of import substitution, significant progress has been observed in domestic fruit growing. Nevertheless, Russia remains one of the largest importers of apples in the world, and the problems of the industry’s development are obvious. The analysis of statistical data and scientific information, as well as industry reviews and expert materials that are publicly available, allows us to identify both obstacles to increasing the effective production of apples in the country, and ways to overcome them. The results of the study show that the increase in national apple production largely depends on the development of related industries, primarily the relevant branches of mechanical engineering and experimental breeding activities. At the same time, the priority of state support should be the development of experimental production facilities, acting as a link between scientific and technical innovations and serial production. Of course, Russia does not need autarky and is not profitable. However, a sufficiently high level of self-sufficiency, especially agricultural and machine-building products, is necessary. The conclusions made in the course of the study can serve to improve the theory and the import substitution policy based on it, as well as to adjust regulatory actions in the process of state management of the economy

The cluster form in Russia is developing dynamically and shows high efficiency, which indicates the prospects for further application of cluster approach to the spatial organization of production. The article presents the general concept and essence of an industrial cluster, indicators of cluster development in the Kaluga region, problems of functioning of these associations and ways to eliminate them in conditions of market integration. The proposed methodology is based on retrospective and current statistical data on clusters’ activity. Most Russia’s regions have all the necessary conditions to form clusters, including many industrial enterprises, research institutes of industry and educational centers. Thus, there is a need to develop a methodological approach that allows for the selection of economic entities that have a positive potential for mutual cooperation for the implementation of innovative projects and the formation of cooperation. The article discusses the theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of industrial clusters in the Kaluga region. The findings show that an industrial cluster is a combination of economic entities that carry out joint activities on the same territory to bring improved types of products and services to the market. Prior research on cluster formations prove that this area has not yet been sufficiently studied, both from the side of a deep analysis of the model of the cluster structure itself, and promising methods of integration into economic and market systems of various levels. This situation is caused by the fact that the directions of the cluster approach are studied to a greater extent in macroeconomics. The analysis of cluster functioning in the Kaluga Region demonstrate a positive impact of these forms of production organization on the overall economic development of the region.

The article discusses the main problems associated with virtual reality systems implementation in engineering industrial companies and indicates that currently great attention in all industries is paid to both production and related processes digitalization. The paper shows that traditional digitalization methods are primarily electronic methods of creating design documentation (computer aided design, CAD), engineering calculations in specialized software (computer aided engineering, CAE), as well as means of computer support for production (computer aided manufacturing, CAM). The study highlights that these methods can significantly reduce the design costs and preparation complexity for manufacturing and, as a result, can reduce the cost. It is assumed that the next logical step towards modern production digitalization is to combine the existing methods with a significant expansion of technological processes visualization possibilities that underlie the production. It is revealed that the process of introducing digital visualization systems requires careful thinking and solving a large number of interdisciplinary problems: from creating a technological process mathematical, physical or digital model, to determining the resources required to be attracted in order to implement a digital system. Thus, the purpose of the work is to develop an algorithm for creating virtual reality technologies that takes into account all the key aspects of this process, which is a complex and urgent task. The article has developed an algorithm that fully reveals this process and shows the economic efficiency of the digital systems implementation for technological processes virtualization in engineering industrial companies.

The urban planning market is changing rapidly and becoming more complex, and state organizations in Russia are forced to enter competitive markets with commercial customers, having no experience of competition and having only a relative understanding of the changing picture of the market and the values of its stakeholders (which are also rapidly changing). The current situation makes it necessary to study the values of potential customers and other stakeholders of the urban planning market, which directly affect the activities of the designer. This study is an attempt to identify the research areas and highlight the main approaches of researchers related to the creation of value in the market of urban planning, for which the method of bibliometric mapping with clustering through the co-word analysis method. The study identifies four clusters and 13 most relevant topics and provides a systematic review of each of them. The findings allow to build a conceptual basis for further development of the topic taking into account Russian specifics, and it will allow urban planning companies to improve the institutional structure, ensure effective functioning and understand their role in joint value creation on the urban planning design market.

In the field of marketing research, the theory of generations is becoming increasingly popular lately, and a particular emphasis is being placed on examining the promising directions of its practical application. This article studies the possibility of using a generational approach to promoting rental housing. The object of the study is the preferences of tenants belonging to different generations, and the subject is the factors influencing the promotion of rental housing. Using the river sampling technique, the paper reveals the preferences of representatives from different generations in the domestic residential real estate rental market. Drawing on the correlation and regression analysis, the authors identify the main factors influencing consumer behavior in the market considered, as well as the specifics of promoting rental housing for representatives of generations who are currently the main target audience. The findings allow us to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the emerging demand in the real estate rental market in Russia and might have important implications in building marketing campaigns aimed at promoting rental housing based on the generational approach to consumer segmentation.

The relationship between military and civilian technologies used for military purposes, as well as the nature of present and future conflicts, are constant subjects of various studies. Currently, modern developments as well as advanced technologies form the basis for the military-industrial complex of most developed countries. In this context, the development and further transfer of dual technologies, which can be used for both military and civilian purposes, is an urgent issue. However, a problematic situation can arise where, on the one hand, the production of armaments, military and special equipment is an essential public good that ensures the security of a country, while, on the other hand, the military technology and products created are not further utilized either in household consumption or as a means of production by enterprises. The use of dual technology allows commercialization of military developments and reduces the burden on the budget of the military sector through profits from the use of technology in the production of civilian products. The article considers the problem of commercializing the results of innovation activities of the research divisions of vertically integrated technology companies that use dual-use technologies, which is relevant to Russia. The research methodology is structured in several stages. Primarily, patent applications have been categorized using the International Patent Classification (IPC) classifier, the PATSTAT database was then analyzed, where a specially designed SQL query was used to select mixed (military and civilian IPC codes) as well as military patents only. The number of citations of the above patents was determined by SQL query. The main finding confirms the hypothesis that the potential of technology transfer from military patents to civilian ones is higher when an initially military patent has double specification.

In this paper, we investigate the development of concept and methodology of subjective inequality perception. We use both foreign or domestic publications to compare the phases and directions of subjective inequality research in Russia and abroad. Correlating the directions of investigations with the challengers of a concrete historical period and key goals of socio-economic policy we show how new problems have been taken into consideration and the recommendations for public policy appear to be more diverse. Specifying the subjective inequality assessment in post-Soviet Russia we come to the conclusion that the subjective estimates, and subjective perception of non-monetary inequality first of all, should be used more actively in government policy advise as obtaining the key importance not only for the socio-economic stability but also for future sustainable development of Russian Federation.

This paper addresses the practice of teaching economics for non-economic students and the development of a target model of teaching. To demonstrate the value of economic knowledge as an important element of general educational training of students at universities, we first assess the role of modern universities in forming an inclusive society. We present the evolution of views on the economic training of students of non-economic specialties in foreign and Russian practice, and highlight current trends in changing the structure, purpose and content of economic disciplines. We offer actual types of combined learning formats for teaching economics as a general educational discipline in the context of an extensive use of digital educational technologies. Drawing on a cross-sectional multisample study conducted at 19 faculties of Lomonosov Moscow State University, we offer a model of teaching economics for non-economic students, proposed as a target model to be implemented within the framework of higher education. The findings can be applied by universities in implementing systemic economic training of non-core students and may also be of interest to the faculty in choosing a combined learning format, as well as updating the course structure and teaching methods.