Moscow University Bulletin. Economics. 2022. 6.

The article explores multicriterial approaches to determine the boundaries of poverty and the middle class. Applied regression analysis confirms the significance of some households’ social and economic characteristics that increase the likelihood of their belonging to a certain population group. Based on various methodological approaches, the analysis of the Russian society structure reveals its high polarization and a significant share of poor population fluctuating from 12% to a quarter of the population and even more considering the parameters that determine the quality of life, peculiarities in behavior and self-identification. Applying the multicriterial approach, the authors propose additional measures to support citizens which cover not only the poorest segments of the population and large families, but also a significant cohort of low-income citizens, as well as the measures that contribute to higher-income work and the increment of human wealth.

The article addresses the ecosystems in the socio-economic sphere as network forms of organizing economic activity, operating under conditions of digital technological infrastructure that brings together various economic agents. The aim of the study is the subject identification of ecosystems carried out by highlighting the essential characteristics and theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of the subject. Apart from universal methods of cognition, the authors provide a systematic literature review, in particular, the frequency analysis of scientific articles. Such approach allows to identify the three dimensions within which the ecosystems are determined: socio-economic, technological and physico-biological. Ecosystems have a network of multilevel in-built structure characterized by scalability, self-organization, stability and dynamism. The equilibrium of ecosystems is conditional due to the dynamic interaction of economic actors: a combination of competition and cooperation, vertical integration and horizontal network relations, formal and informal contracts. Ecosystem development is determined by the innovation potential: entrepreneurs play an important role, as well as information, data and knowledge used to develop innovations. To study ecosystems, scientific literature applies a general conceptual apparatus of economic science, as well as the conceptual apparatus formed within new institutional economic theory (NIET), evolutionary economics and theory of innovation. NIET can be applied to the study of ecosystems in the field of contract theory, applying the method of discrete structural alternatives. The dichotomous division of ecosystems into economic entities and environments used is a principle that is applied in evolutionary economics. The results of this study can be applied to ecosystem regulation, as well as developing the courses on digital economy.

What use is neoclassical mainstream? Criticism of mainstream practical applicability by heterodoxies is not weakening. But the mainstream is heterogeneous, it includes orthodox neoclassical mainstream (Walras, Keynes, Friedman), the subject — “the wealth of nations”, the method — a mathematically descriptive method without explanations and the Marshallian version — with the same subject and method, but with explanations from the standpoint of individual behavior. The regularities of the objective neoclassical mainstream (demand curve, equality of savings to investments, etc.) are irrefutable, but its practical applicability is limited by the descriptive method. The potential of the mainstream can be revealed if it is re-incorporated into the classical two–factor model “nature-form” (nature according to Smith — “purchasing power”, according to Marx — “value”; form — good, use value), in which the descriptive method is supplemented by an explicative one. This is a classic model at a new level, consistent with genomics (the product is not an “economic cell”, but an “economic DNA molecule”). The model differs from the heterodox “Marxist political economy” in subject matter and method. This is the “new orthodoxy” which can be called “applied political economy”, since it includes analysis, forecasting and application in business practice.

This study examines the application of the ecosystem approach, development of ecosystem services theory, and the need to record and evaluate these eco-services. The paper clarifies the concept of “natural capital” and its structure, considers the essence of new evaluation objects and their specific features, confirms the difference between functions and ecosystem services, systematizes and analyzes the existing classifications of ecosystem services in general and in relation to regulating and cultural ones. The authors propose the classification of ecosystem services which differ from international and domestic classifications but at the same time focus on achieving a certain consistency in the characteristics of ecosystem services of these classifications. The study proves that evolutionary changes in objects evaluation can be characterized by the scheme: “natural resources — natural resource potential — ecosystem services — natural capital”. The evaluation object is becoming more and more complex, including natural resources and ecosystem services of abiotic and biotic components of the environment. Natural capital becomes the main object of evaluation. The reliability of the economic evaluation requires an interdisciplinary approach, which involves relying on a system of landscape categories and involving specialists from various fields of scientific knowledge. We believe that the development of the evaluation theory in terms of clarifying the essence of the economic valuation of natural resources and the classification of ecosystem services, mainly regulating and cultural ones, will help to increase the reliability of economic value of natural resources and ecosystem services, which ultimately determines the improvement of state regulation of nature management.

The study attempts to explain the dependence of agricultural development indicators on subsidies and other factors in Russia in 2012–2020. Based on the author's methodology, the survey evaluates the economic efficiency of subsidies in Russia’s agriculture, develops and justifies the measures to improve the support system aimed at increasing total factor productivity (TFP). The object of the study is agricultural subsidy system. The subject of the research is the influence of subsidies on TFP in agriculture. The panel models with fixed effects do not reveal an impact of subsidies on TFP. The 1st lag of the logarithm of subsidies negatively affects the dynamics of labor productivity, and shows no relationship between current year subsidies and labor productivity. Labor productivity in agriculture in Russia grows in 2019– 2020 as a result of higher gross output and, to a lesser extent, of lower employment. Capital productivity increases mainly due to gross output growth. Support measures for general services (development of infrastructure, science, extension, phytosanitary and veterinary services) should be the most important components of increasing the efficiency of agricultural subsidies. These components in agricultural subsidies are of high priority for the environmental situation in rural areas and the state of human capital.

This article examines the development opportunities of the Baltic Sea region which consist in the possibility to effectively use the potential of blue economy industries through digital transformation and innovation. The purpose of the article is to prove that effective use of the Baltic region resource potential is a priority factor for stable economic development of the coastal territories in this region through innovations and digital technologies. The article presents effective tools and mechanisms to develop digital economy of the Baltic territories organizations, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of digitalization. Based on prior research on sustainable development of the Baltic region, the paper shows that to prevent the negative impact of uneven development on sustainable development goals in the region is possible through more active use of the unique resources of the coastal territories of the region, the rise of industries and sectors of blue economy on a new technological basis. Investing in digitalization of these industries and development of information and communication infrastructure of the Baltic Sea coastal territories is the key to their competitiveness

The paper examines the concept of minimum wage and approaches to its establishment in the labor legislation of the USSR and the Russian Federation. The purpose of the work is to identify the features of legal regulation of the minimum wage that affect the current situation with the minimum wage in order to improve it. The findings indicate that the experience of the USSR and the Russian Federation (in the editorial offices of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation until 2007) has positive aspects which we advise to pay attention to. The article also reviews a significant number of legislative initiatives on these issues involving both the size of the minimum wage itself and the methods and frequency of its establishment. We note that despite the approach adopted since 2021 in setting the minimum wage based on the median wage generally correlates with the world practice, while its size requires further research. We also propose to restore the previously valid definition of the minimum wage.

The article compares civil servants’ payment systems and wage levels in the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom, and identifies the factors affecting the civil servants’ pay level in both countries. With comparable civil servants’ payment levels in terms of purchasing power in Russia and Great Britain, there are differences in structural elements of payment and the fields of activity that are highly paid. The study is based on data analysis of the RF Ministry of Labour and the UK Office for National Statistics concerning civil servants’ pay levels in central offices of federal executive bodies of the Russian Federation and central public bodies of the UK. The comparative analysis shows that civil servants’ payment in Russia is significantly higher than that in Great Britain in such fields as security, defense, justice, legal proceedings, construction, housing and utilities, and statistics. In Great Britain, by contrast, civil servants are paid more than in Russia in speres of education, science, culture, tourism, media, industry and economics. Based on theories and studies reviewed, the article provides an econometric analysis of factors affecting the civil servants’ pay level in Russia and Great Britain. Regression analysis identifies statistically significant institutional, gender and age factors which determine the high level of the civil servants’ pay in both countries, for example, activities in financial, tax and customs spheres in Russia or work in small-size public bodies in Great Britain.

The purpose of the study is to formulate cost-effective solutions and approaches to increase the competitiveness of a special vehicles manufacturer. Prior review of domestic and foreign literature shows that the use of information systems for after-sales service and serviceoriented business model help to obtain competitive advantages for manufacturers of complex engineering products. The paper describes the main characteristics and parameters of aftersales service and repair systems and shows the economic effect of applying information systems to optimize maintenance. The authors consider the case of implementing a service-oriented approach and developing an after-sales service information system for a manufacturer of special vehicles. Based on the analysis of available domestic and foreign solutions, the paper formulates the requirements for the information system and the principal architecture of the system to ensure the economic efficiency of after-sales service. An assessment of the effects of using the proposed approaches and solutions for large operators of special vehicles is given. The prerequisites, goals, stages of development of an integrated after-sales service system for a manufacturer of special tools are outlined. The results of the study can serve to implement the proposed solutions at the LLC “GRUPPA PROMAVTO”, as well as to improve approaches to after-sales service for manufacturers of complex technical products.

This study examines the relationship between personalisation tools in the e-commerce market on the example of e-grocery and customer satisfaction, identifies the factors which can influence positive consumer experience leading to increased customer satisfaction and, as a result, increased consumer trust. The authors consider the triad “customer satisfaction — trust — customer loyalty” and propose an algorithm for the triad constructs interaction on the Russian e-grocery market. The purpose of the study is to determine the impact of personalised marketing on building trust among consumers in the e-grocery market, which was achieved through an empirical study—an online survey of 384 respondents, with factor and regression analysis as the main research methods. The results of the study helped identify the factors used as the basis for the implementation of personalised marketing tools and affect customer satisfaction and trust in e-grocery. Finally, the authors construct an integrated model of forming consumer confidence through satisfaction tested for reliability in the form of a regression model based on the analysis of individual factors contributing to increasing loyalty.

The article provides an overview and assessment of the legacy of most significant Russian researcher of the past decades in the field of theory and methodology of classical institutionalism — candidate of science in economics, associate professor Alexander Ivanovich Moskovskiy, who worked for many years at the Department of Political Economy at Lomonosov MSU Faculty of Economics. The article shows the original ideas of A. I. Moskovskiy on the correlation of classical political economy, other schools of the heterodox branch of economic theory and neoclassical, methodology and theory of classical institutionalism. Special attention is paid to the research of A. I. Moskovskiy on the relationship between the technological progress, socio-economic processes, as well as the content and role of labor. The article reveals that A. I. Moskovskiy is among the first and most profound researchers who not only criticized the processes of deindustrialization but showed the importance of focusing on re-industrialization of the economy, showing (based on classical institutionalism and modern Marxism methodology) that strategic planning and active industrial policy can become the most important means to solve this problem. The industrial era, during which huge enterprises were the main institutions for maintaining social order, is not coming to an end; that affects employment and the nature of work. At the same time, the scolar did not deny that postindustrial society is now increasingly characterized as a “knowledge society”, in which knowledge and information become a key resource for technological, economic, and social development. An important point relates to the analysis of A. I. Moskovskiy changes in the methods and forms of managing skilled workers in conditions of increasing complexity and knowledge-intensive labor.