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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2018‒05‒28
seventeen papers chosen by |
| By: | Maruev, Aleksey (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | The fundamental advantage of Russia in all historical epochs is its considerable territorial extent, which provides unique transport opportunities. Moreover, the geographical location of Russia allows for the transfer of transport flows both along the Southern Transport Corridor from the Far Eastern regions bordering China to the western ones, providing access to the West European market, and through the Northern - via the Northern Sea Route. However, the realities of the geoeconomic situation show that the current program documents of the federal and regional levels of the Russian Federation do not fully take into account the challenges and threats accompanying the development of the Russian segment of cross-border and transcontinental projects that ensure Russia's integrated interaction with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the sphere of transboundary transport corridors in the Far East and in the Arctic zone of Russia can not be provided. The creation of the basic transport infrastructure of the Russian Arctic and the Far East, the maritime and continental components of their security, requires an holistic system for ensuring the integrated security of transport communications in these regions. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041833&r=cis |
| By: | Makaretseva, Alla (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Khasanova, Ramilya (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | Over the past 16 years, Russia has experienced the following trends in the process of mortality. The life expectancy of the Russian population is growing, but the growth rate is low. For 2000-2016 the life expectancy of the population increased by 6.6 years (by 4.8 years for women, 7.5 years for men) and was 71.9 years (men - 66.5 years, women - 77 years ), it is still 6 years lower than the average in developed countries. The gap in life expectancy between men and women in Russia still remains one of the highest in the world, and by 2016 is 10.5 years (in 2000 - 13 years). There is still a high regional differentiation of life expectancy: 16 years - between the highest and the lowest regional level of life expectancy in 2016. For 2000-2016, the infant mortality rate decreased by 60% (from 15.3 per mille to 6), but the relative lag of Russia from other developed countries remains. Similarly, infant mortality in Russia is characterized by a large gap in the indicators of rural and urban areas and significant regional differentiation. Mortality of the working-age population declines slowly and remains very high in comparison with Western countries. Today the question of finding ways to equalize the levels of demographic and socio-economic development of regions and create prerequisites for stabilizing the demographic situation in Russia as a whole and in regions where a steady decline in population is observed today is urgent. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041830&r=cis |
| By: | Simon, Mark (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Malakhov, Vladimir (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Letnyakov, Denis (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Motin, A (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | This study focuses on the contextual verification of the theory of ethno-cultural justice, formed in the framework of procedural liberal pluralism - its testing on specific examples of North America, Western and Eastern Europe, and Russia. This theory is based on the possibility of combining individual rights with collective rights of minorities. With this approach, interethnic relations are considered, first of all, as a phenomenon of the public sphere, within which certain groups demand from the state to recognize their right to identity. The set of rights and institutional capacities which certain communities dispose directly depends from such a recognition. The authors consider the state as the central player in interethnic relations, while it mediates the interaction between different ethno-cultural associations. The state is the only actor that has the legitimate right to frame certain interactions as "interethnic". In the absence of the state we are dealing with private phenomena. Studying various cases, the authors explore the mechanisms for granting rights to autochthonous (national) and allochthonous (immigrant) communities, their adaptation to the dominant societal culture. Particular attention is paid to the integration of the second generation of immigrants - as potentially the most vulnerable group (from the point of view of potential radicalization). The study demonstrates the paramount importance of educational mechanisms in the processes of integration and adaptation of migrants. In addition, the authors claim that the problem of protecting the rights of minorities goes far beyond the competence of individual countries. The study identifies the role of international organizations, including INGOs in this area. Finally, the authors reveal the distinctive features of Eastern European societies in the context of xenophobic manifestations, which in a way makes it difficult to apply the approaches of Will Kymlicka and other representatives of liberal egalitarianism. Nevertheless, some of the provisions of Kymlicka's theory seem to be relevant to the Russian context in connection with the development of a policy of the integration of immigrants. |
| Keywords: | interethnic relations, conflict prevention, multiculturalism, national politics, migration, second-generation migrants, social integration |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041824&r=cis |
| By: | Pakhomov, Alexander (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Makarov, Andrei (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Bagdasaryan, Kniaz (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | In this review is analyzed the current economic and integration processes in ASEAN member States in the context of opportunities and constraints for the implementation of the future foreign economic policy of Russia in the South-East Asia region. Currently most of the countries of the Association belong to the dynamic developing countries in the world that have significant natural and economic potential and large market, and also form a common economic space within the framework of the grouping and are reaching a new level of integration with major foreign partners. Besides one of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states priority is the establishment of preferential relations with third party countries at the present stage. It is noticeable that EAEU approached some positive tendency with the Association of South-East Asian Nations in recent years. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041832&r=cis |
| By: | Levashenko, Antonina (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Ermokhin, Ivan (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | The paper presents a study of OECD standards and best practices of OECD countries on selected social, economic, environmental and other issues. Proposals have been made for Russia to improve national legislation, fill gaps in government programs, develop international cooperation in priority areas, and also address tasks set in the framework of priority projects. |
| Keywords: | OECD, reform of supervisory activities, mortgage and rental housing, urban environment, international cooperation and and exports |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041826&r=cis |
| By: | Norris, Pippa (Harvard University); Gromping, Max (University of Sydney) |
| Abstract: | National elections for the legislature and/or the executive are held in almost all countries around the globe. This development has the potential to strengthen democracy. Yet, numerous contests suffer from electoral malpractice, whether from unfair laws, gerrymandered boundaries, restrictions on the free press, maladministration, election-related violence, ballot box fraud, or the abuse of money in politics. How widespread are these problems? For updated evidence, this report draws upon the fifth release of the Perceptions of Electoral Integrity dataset (PEI 5.0), in May 2017. This dataset compares the views of 2,709 experts who have evaluated electoral integrity in 158 countries holding 241 national elections from 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2016. Part II of the report summarizes the latest results by global region and highlights selected cases to go beyond the numbers, contrasting positive and negative practices. We focus on several elections held in 2015 and 2016--including the UK and Iceland in Western Europe, the United States in the Americas, Australia and the Philippines in Asia Pacific, Russia and Lithuania in Central and Eastern Europe, Iran and Syria in the MENA region, and The Gambia and Gabon in Sub-Saharan Africa. Part III examines two major challenges--electoral corruption and coercion. The EIP project has developed new measures to monitor the extent of these problems--where they occur and what conditions these malpractices commonly undermine electoral integrity. Are these techniques of carrots and sticks deployed separately--or are they combined? More systematic evidence about these problems can provide insights about how best to target reforms and what policies have proved most effective. Part IV focuses on populist threats to electoral integrity. We first compare several recent European elections to see whether contemporary support for populist parties is rising or stalled, including in the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. We then identify three mechanisms whereby populism threatens free and fair contests including through damaging public confidence in elections, actively undermining international standards of electoral integrity and violating electoral laws, and colluding from Russian attempts to interfere with democracy abroad. Parts V and VI provide additional reference and technical information. With this update, PEI 5.0 covers 91% of all independent nation states holding national parliamentary and presidential elections around the world, excluding micro-states (with a population below 100,000). The study provides independent assessments utilizing a rolling survey where experts assess the quality of national elections one month after the close of the polls. Based on the views of 2,709 experts, the average response rate for PEI 5.0 is 28%. The technical appendix provides full details about the reliability and validity of the dataset. |
| Date: | 2017–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp17-018&r=cis |
| By: | Anastasia Kazun (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Kseniia Semykina (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | The study analyzes the construction of the network links of Vladimir Putin and Alexei Navalny with various issues of Russian public discussion in the national print media. The theoretical framework is issue ownership theory, according to which political actors have a range of issues that are most strongly associated with them. Ownership by the politician of topics that are perceived as important in the society determines his popularity among the population. In this study, we use the Integrum database, which contains extensive print media archives of approximately 500 Russian magazines and more than 250 national newspapers. We analyze the period from 12.12.2016 to 12.12.2017, i.å., one year after Alexey Navalny's announcement of his intention to participate in the presidential election in 2018. The analysis shows that Putin has more opportunities to form an agenda, as he attracts much more attention from national media than Navalny does. Putin is often mentioned in connection with economic issues and international relations, which attract the attention of the population and are perceived as important, while his activity in these spheres is perceived as successful. Navalny is associated with the issues of corruption, NGOs and civic activism. Corruption is an important topic for Russians, but the low attention of the media to Navalny does not allow him to gain the maximum benefit from owning this story. |
| Keywords: | mass media, network agenda-setting, issue ownership, image of politicians, electoral behavior, public opinion, Putin, Navalny, elections 2018 |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:62/ps/2018&r=cis |
| By: | Dobrolyubova, Elena (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | The paper presents an analysis of foreign and Russian approaches to assessing the effectiveness of decentralization of authority. The author's methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of delegated authorities is presented, as well as the results of its approbation, which allowed to identify the key factors influencing the effectiveness of decentralization in Russian conditions. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041839&r=cis |
| By: | Korishchenko, Konstantin (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Pilnik, Nikolay (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Ivanova, Maria (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | The econometric model of inflation formation depending on the dynamics of the main factors is used as a research tool. According to the presented model, the main generators of volatility are the volatility of oil prices and the policy regime of course management. |
| Keywords: | consumer inflation, inflation targeting, volatility, currency corridor, gold reserves |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041834&r=cis |
| By: | Maleva, Tatiana (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Zubarevich, Natalia (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Lyashok, Victor (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Lopatina, Marina (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | In the work, the main focus of the research is aimed at analyzing the impact of crises on the labor market, rather than on the upswings, because the dynamics of the labor market during the crisis and recovery are significantly different. The recession in the economy is usually sharper and faster and leads to a decline in demand for labor and through this and other characteristics of the labor market. During the economic recovery, the dynamics of the main characteristics of the labor market are determined by general structural changes in both demand and labor supply. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041823&r=cis |
| By: | Jens Klose (THM Business School) |
| Abstract: | The equilibrium real interest rate is one of the most discussed variables in economics, although it is unobservable. While it has been estimated with respect to various developed countries, this paper is the first to estimate it for five developing countries - the BRICS countries. To do so the most widely used model in this respect - the Laubach and Williams model - is used. Moreover, the results are compared to the actual real interest rate to give an indication whether e.g. monetary policy was too tight or too loose in certain periods. The results indicate that we indeed have substantial differences between the actual and the equilibrium real interest rate going either way. While for China and India monetary policy tends to be too loose in many periods, thus boosting economic growth even further, the reverse seems to be true with respect to Brazil especially in the late 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. In Russia and South Africa the actual real rate is mainly in line with the equilibrium one, thus monetary policy is neither to loose nor too tight. |
| Keywords: | equilibrium real interest rate, BRICS, state-space-models |
| JEL: | E43 C32 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mar:magkse:201814&r=cis |
| By: | Andrew Phiri (Department of Economics, Nelson Mandela University) |
| Abstract: | Whilst the issue of whether or not per capita GDP adheres to the convergence theory continues to draw increasing attention within the academic paradigm, with very little consensus having been reached in the literature thus far. Our study contributes to the literature by examining the stationarity of per capita GDP for BRICS countries using annual data collected between 1971 and 2015. Considering that our sample covers a period underlying a number of crisis and structural breaks within and amongst the BRICS countries, we rely on a robust nonlinear unit root testing procedure which captures a series of unobserved structural breaks. Our results confirm on Brazil and China being the only two BRICS economies who present the most convincing evidence of per capita GDP converging back to it’s natural equilibrium after an economic shock, whilst Russia and South Africa provide less convincing evidence of convergence dynamics in the time series and India having the weakest convergence properties. |
| Keywords: | Per capita GDP, Convergence, unit root tests, nonlinearities, structural breaks, BRICS Emerging economies |
| JEL: | C12 C13 C21 C22 C51 C52 O47 |
| Date: | 2018–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mnd:wpaper:1822&r=cis |
| By: | Maleva, Tatiana (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Zubarevich, Natalya (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Lyashok, Victor (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Lopatina, Marina (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | In the work, the main focus of the research is aimed at analyzing the impact of crises on the labor market, rather than on the upswings, because the dynamics of the labor market during the crisis and recovery are significantly different. The recession in the economy is usually sharper and faster and leads to a decline in demand for labor and through this and other characteristics of the labor market. During the economic recovery, the dynamics of the main characteristics of the labor market are determined by general structural changes in both demand and labor supply. |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041831&r=cis |
| By: | Levashenko, Antonina (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)); Koval, Alexandra (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA)) |
| Abstract: | Liberalization of capital ìovements is the elimination of restrictions on the capital flows across the country's borders. It promotes financial integration. Russia retains a number of re-strictions on the movement of capital that are not applied in OECD’s countries where the regulation of cross-border capital flows is carried out in accordance with the principles of the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Capital Movements. |
| Keywords: | free capital flows, the OECD Code of Liberalisation of Capital Movements, in-ternational trade |
| Date: | 2018–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:wpaper:041827&r=cis |
| By: | Vasylyeva, Anna (University College Maastricht, Maastricht University); Merkle, Ortrun (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University) |
| Abstract: | Corruption is a widespread phenomenon at Ukrainian higher education institutions (HEIs), with more than a quarter of students reporting participation in corrupt activities. This paper explores the dominant forms of corruption in Ukrainian public universities and proposes ways to combat corruption at the HEI level. For this, we analyse data from national authorities and civil society on corruption in the education sector. A subsequent corruption mapping identifies three of the most common corruption schemes: entrance examinations, grade attainment throughout university education, as well as administrative corruption. The paper closes with a set of policy recommendations to a) collect more data and conduct further research; b) increase transparency in the Ukrainian HEIs; c) conduct information campaigns and encourage participation of the civil society; d) increase oversight of HEIs; e) create a better reward and punishment mechanism system for HEI employees; f) standardise exams in the written form; and g) encourage academic freedom. |
| Keywords: | corruption, higher education, universities, Ukraine |
| JEL: | D73 I23 |
| Date: | 2018–05–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2018021&r=cis |
| By: | Nóra Révai (OECD) |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews evidence on the interplay between professional standards for teachers, the content of teacher education and educational sciences, and provides three case studies to illustrate these interactions from Estonia, Australia and Singapore. In particular, it investigates what aligning teacher education programmes to standards really mean; and what conception of educational sciences is reflected in the standards and the curriculum. Analyses suggest that alignment, as an explicit, direct and consistent correspondence, is difficult to achieve, in part due to different conceptualisations of professional knowledge. However, this paper argues that the main value of standards as policy tools lies in their capacity to create mutual dialogue between different artefacts (standards’ requirements, curriculum, course descriptions, accreditation standards, etc.), as well as among stakeholders. Regularly renegotiating the standards as a result of such dialogue and reflections should be a crucial part of the policy process.Résumé: Ce document de travail fait un état de la littérature sur l'interaction entre les normes professionnelles pour les enseignants, le contenu de leur formation et les sciences de l'éducation. Par ailleurs, il fournit trois études de cas pour illustrer ces interactions en Estonie, en Australie et à Singapour. En particulier, il étudie ce que signifie réellement l'alignement des programmes de formation des enseignants avec les normes; et quelle conception des sciences de l'éducation est reflétée dans les normes et le curriculum. Les analyses suggèrent qu’il est difficile d’obtenir un alignement, au sens de correspondance explicite, directe et cohérente, notamment en raison de conceptualisations différentes du savoir professionnel. Néanmoins, ce papier soutient que le potentiel des normes en tant qu'outils politiques réside dans leur capacité à créer un dialogue entre différents artefacts (les exigences formulées par les normes, le curriculum, les descriptions des cours de formation, les normes d'accréditation, etc.), ainsi qu’entre les différentes parties prenantes. La renégociation régulière des normes à la suite de ce dialogue et de ces réflexions devrait être un élément crucial du processus politique. |
| Date: | 2018–05–28 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:eduaab:174-en&r=cis |
| By: | Angelika Kallakmaa |
| Abstract: | The economy of Baltic countries has quickly adjusted to new circumstances brought about by the global crisis. Despite of recovering of economy the growth has remained slow. The housing market and financial sector are tightly connected. Different factors influence the average housing prices, but there is always a link between credit and house prices. For example the housing boom in Estonia was mostly driven by a large credit supply and favourable loan conditions. Household’s financial situation in Baltic countries has improved and the stock of housing loans is growing. The aim of this paper is to outline the dynamics of the housing market after the crisis and compare the situation in Baltic countries. |
| Keywords: | Baltic; Estonia; Housing; housing loan |
| JEL: | R3 |
| Date: | 2017–07–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arz:wpaper:eres2017_247&r=cis |