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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2021‒07‒26
ten papers chosen by |
| By: | Olga Balaeva (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Yuliya Rodionova (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Andrei A. Yakovlev (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Andrey Tkachenko (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the indicators of public procurement efficiency as perceived by public buyers and suppliers and what barriers must be overcome for them to consider public procurement efficient. The analysis, based on an online survey of Russian procurers and suppliers in 2020, reveals that, despite the importance of fighting corruption and increasing competition, most procurers and suppliers consider the supply of high-quality goods and timely contract execution the most important criteria. The natural experiment with COVID-19 has mitigated the rigidity of the regulation problem but exacerbated the ambiguity problem. During the pandemic, public procurement contract execution worsened. To improve procurement efficiency, the regulator should clearly specify its requirements and consider the main participants’ interests. |
| Keywords: | public procurement; efficiency; regulation; COVID-19; suppliers; procurers, Russia. |
| JEL: | H57 |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:29/psp/2021&r= |
| By: | Maitra, Sumantra |
| Abstract: | This paper explores the causes of Russian revanchism alongside phases of NATO expansion, and concludes that evidence of Moscow’s reflexive revanchism is sparse. Russian foreign policy is tested and correlated with Russian rhetoric, military strategy and Russian balancing actions, in light of each phase of actual and potential NATO expansion. The paper concludes that, first, Russia balances against perceived threats, only in areas where it has entrenched material and military interests. Otherwise, Russia is aware of relative military inferiority, and is agnostic about NATO and EU enlargement. These findings have enormous policy relevance, as both NATO and EU plans further enlargement, American and British isolationism grows, and European security scenario alters rapidly. |
| Date: | 2021–07–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:dcjsk&r= |
| By: | Abanokova, Kseniya (Higher School of Economics, National Research University); Dang, Hai-Anh (World Bank) |
| Abstract: | Hardly any recent study exists that broadly reviews poverty trends over time for Russia. Analyzing the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Surveys between 1994 and 2019, we offer an updated review of poverty trends and dynamics for the country over the past quarter of century. We find that poverty has been steadily decreasing, with most of the poor having a transient rather than a chronic nature. The bottom 20 percent of the income distribution averages an annual growth rate of 5 percent, which compares favorably with that of 3.3 percent for the whole population. Income growth, particularly the shares that are attributed to labor incomes and public transfers, have important roles in reducing poverty. Our findings are relevant to poverty and social protection policies. |
| Keywords: | RLMS, income mobility, income growth, poverty dynamics, poverty, Russia |
| JEL: | C15 D31 I31 O10 O57 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14544&r= |
| By: | Gluschenko, Konstantin |
| Abstract: | During the last 15–20 years, inequality between Russian regions in terms of real personal incomes per capita was decreasing. This paper aims at revealing the “anatomy” of this phenomenon. To do so, time series of every regional income per capita is tested for catching-up with the national income per capita. Nonlinear asymptotically subsiding trends model the processes of convergence. The data cover 2002–2018 with a monthly frequency. Real incomes are estimated by adjusting nominal incomes to regional price levels. The results obtained suggest that 54.4% of the Russian regions exhibit convergence, and 20.3% of regions retain (approximately) stable income gap. At the same time, there is a significant proportion of deterministically diverging regions, equaling 22.8%. Random walks are detected in two regions only. |
| Keywords: | Russian regions, real income, catching-up, nonlinear trend |
| JEL: | C32 I31 O18 R11 |
| Date: | 2021–07–13 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:108756&r= |
| By: | Blum, Matthias; Krauss, Karl-Peter; Myeshkov, Dmytro |
| Abstract: | Prior to the Age of Mass Migration, Germans left central Europe to settle primarily in modernday Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and Russia. Despite the harsh conditions that the first generation of settlers had to endure, their descendants often fared better, not worse, compared to native population groups. This study offers a possible explanation for this surprising outcome. We use data on approximately 11,500 individuals to estimate and compare basic numeracy scores of German settlers and other populations groups in target regions. We find that German settlers generally had superior basic numeracy levels, suggesting that these settlers must have contributed positively to the human capital endowment in their target regions. The numeracy of Germans was somewhat higher than the numeracy of Hungarians and substantially higher than the numeracy of Russians, Ukrainians and Serbs. We do not find noteworthy differences in terms of numeracy between German emigrants and the population they left behind, suggesting the absence of substantial migrant selection. |
| Keywords: | Migration,Economic History,Germany,Hungary,Russian Empire,Ukraine,Eastern Europe |
| JEL: | N13 N23 |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:qucehw:202103&r= |
| By: | Çınar, Müge |
| Abstract: | In September 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping introduced an ambiguous, geoeconomic & geostrategic concept, “One Belt One Road,” during his visit to Kazakhstan. This global infrastructural development strategy was later defined as the Belt and Road initiative, which is an umbrella for the concepts of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. the Belt and Road Initiative set out to accomplish more advanced transport connections and better economic integration of the member countries. it also aims for interconnection in finance, policies, and infrastructure. Kazakhstan, whose energy and transport infrastructure China has already invested in prior to the BRI, is essential for the SREB, the land-based section of the BRI since it occupies a crucial geostrategic position in the region. Kazakhstan, apart from its great landmass in Euroasia that makes it a linchpin for transport and trade links on the continent, holds large energy reserves. Moreover, it is the strongest economy in the region. Thus, “China considers Kazakhstan crucial for transit, a source of energy, and as a stable neighbour of its unstable Xinjiang province”. This article, It is aimed to analyze the importance of the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative's Economic Impact on Kazakhstan. |
| Date: | 2021–01–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:3a6d9&r= |
| By: | Stojkoski, Viktor; Toshevska-Trpchevska, Katerina; Makrevska Disoska, Elena; Tevdovski, Dragan |
| Abstract: | We explore the complementarities between technological and organizational innovations by utilizing cross-sectional data taken from the Community Innovation Survey - CIS2012 for two group of countries: Central and Eastern Europe (CEE - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and Western European countries (WE - Germany, Spain, Norway and Portugal). We find that in CEE there is no complementarity between the different types of innovation analyzed. On the other hand, we show that probably in WE there is complementary relationship between organizational and process innovations, but not between organizational and product innovation. Altogether, this indicates that there is a variety in the relationships between the types of innovation in more developed countries (the WE group), but not in less developed countries (CEE group). |
| Keywords: | innovation, complementarity, CDM model, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe |
| JEL: | O31 O33 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:108753&r= |
| By: | Commander, Simon (IE Business School, Altura Partners); Prieskienyte, Ruta (University of Bath) |
| Abstract: | Can autocracies and their associated institutions successfully implement economic policies that promote growth and investment? Can 'good economics' somehow offset the effects of 'bad' politics? Kazakhstan is a case where an autocratic regime has actively projected market-friendly policies and attracted significant amounts of incoming investment. These policies are to some extent reflected in the country's governance ratings, although there has been a significant amount of investment disputes that question the attachment to the rule of law. Moreover, the political regime remains strongly personalized around the founder President, his family and associates. This is reflected in the economics of the autocracy whereby a large public sector and a set of privately held businesses coexist to mutual benefit. The latter have been formed around a very small number of highly connected individuals whose initial accumulation of assets allows them also to act as necessary gatekeepers for entrants. Competition as a result remains limited in both economic and political domains. Yet, uncertainties over the future leadership, along with latent rivalry over access to resources and markets, make the political equilibrium quite fragile. In short, 'bad' politics both squeezes the space for, and distorts the benefits from, 'good' economics. |
| Keywords: | political networks, autocracy, investment |
| JEL: | D72 H11 L14 P26 |
| Date: | 2021–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp14554&r= |
| By: | Dainius Genys (VDU - Vytautas Magnus University - Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas); Ričardas Krikštolaitis (VDU - Vytautas Magnus University - Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas) |
| Abstract: | The paper is directed to an important yet controversial phenomena of public perception of nuclear energy in Lithuania. It discusses the conceptualization of nuclear energy public perception in relation to psychometric paradigm and its specified key elements of public security feelings. The empirical research is based on representative public poll carried out in 2017. Based on the discoveries of previous research when identifying the interdependence of public perception and support towards concrete political parties, four clusters were formed to test conceptual notions (importance of personal trust in energy industry and personal knowledge) and then relate it with the political preferences of each cluster. The results indicate the distribution of both nuclear energy as well as concrete energy projects public perception in relation to political preferences and peculiarities of security feeling among each cluster. |
| Keywords: | nuclear energy,public perception,political priorities,change,cluster analysis,Lithuania |
| Date: | 2020–12–30 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03271859&r= |
| By: | Sandra Pellet; Marine de Talancé |
| Date: | 2021 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:eru:erudwp:wp21-11&r= |