The presented study examines the correlation between the concepts of quality, education, and sustainable development, and determines their effects on the formation and implementation of a competence­based approach of the national educational model.

Aim. The study aims to analyze the trending effects of education on institutional and economic transformations and to determine the correlation and interdependence between the educational model, quality of education, and sustainable social development.

Tasks. The authors examine the structure of gross domestic product generation from the perspective of the relationship between industries and activities in the field of material production and services; analyze the share of services in the economy of developed and developing countries; identify the necessary and sufficient directions in the formation and implementation of a competence­based model, taking into account the demands and transformations of the society.

Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition to examine the economic transformation of society in various aspects and assess its impact on the quality of public goods, namely, education.

Results. The spatial and temporal discontinuity of structural changes in the generation of Russia’s GDP in general has a negative impact on the population’s quality of life, including the quality of education. The study analyzes institutional changes in the economy accompanied by the transformation of such public good as education. The authors propose an original approach to improving the quality of higher education.

Conclusions. Examination of economic transformation processes based on the analysis of GDP structure and the relationship between industries and activities in the field of material production and services makes it possible to identify the specific aspects of these processes and characteristic features of their impact on the quality of public goods. As a result, this provides insight into the factors that generally affect the quality of education, the development of a competence­based model, and sustainable social development in general.

The issues of socio-economic differentiation, regional convergence, identification of influencing factors, and analysis of their impact on spatial economic development are one of the main topics of interest for regional researchers and are widely discussed in scientific literature.

Aim. The presented study aims to examine regional convergence in the Russian Federation in order to develop proposals aimed at eliminating the problem of spatial disparities.

Tasks. The authors examine the theoretical framework of regional convergence, analyze the convergence of Russian regions in 2000–2015 using the main indicator of socio-economic development — gross regional product per capita, and test several scientific hypotheses, including the presence and speed of absolute convergence, the presence of conditional convergence among Russian regions, the expected impact of regional economic growth determinants used in the conditional convergence model on the development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Methods. The study uses economic, mathematical, and statistical information processing methods. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the works of Russian and foreign researchers in the field of regional development. The information basis includes statistical databases, official data published by the public authorities, and studies of Russian and foreign organizations.

Results. The results of the analysis show a lack of unconditional β-convergence among the regions of the Russian Federation. The following regional development factors prove to be significant in the construction of the conditional convergence model: fixed investment, the ratio between employees in knowledge-intensive service industries and the region’s total number of employees, and population density. The hypothesis about the expected impact of these determinants on the economic growth of Russian regions is confirmed.

Conclusions. The performed analysis makes it possible to identify the most important economic growth factors for Russian regions and to make proposals aimed at developing mechanisms for the targeted and efficient influence of the government on the regional economy. The obtained results and conclusions indicate the relevance of the national economic policy in solving the problems of socio-economic differentiation and can be used by the scientific community and the public authorities of the Russian Federation.

In the 21st century, Russia plans its activities in the Arctic with the intention of developing its abundant resources and modernizing the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The financial capabilities of the Russian Federation allow it to invest heavily into the development of Arctic resources and into NSR traffic flows. In spite of severe and growing sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation by the US, other countries are willing to take part in the development of Russian Arctic resources and modernization of the Northern Sea Route.

Aim. The presented study aims to examine the priority development areas in the Arctic and the participation of major companies in the development of resource potential in the Russian Arctic zone, and to identify trends and risks in the modernization of the Northern Sea Route.

Tasks. The authors determine the degree of implementation of Russian Arctic development programs.

Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition, Russian laws and regulations on Arctic development, and conclusions of Russian scientists on the efficiency of solutions to this problem.

Results. The study shows that Russia has developed a detailed strategy of Arctic development until 2035, which has encouraged the world’s leading economies to take part in the development of the Arctic.

Conclusions. Despite the expansion and tightening of anti-Russian sanctions by the US, Asian countries are actively involved in the development of Arctic deposits and modernization of the Northern Sea Route.

Identification of factors that contribute to the spatial transformation of a regional economy in modern conditions is an important area of research. At the same time, the development of the country’s regional economic space is closely associated with the integration of economic ties, which is determined by the territorial distribution of resources and economic entities in the region. Therefore, efficient functioning of such forms of spatial organization of economic entities as network structures affects the sustainable spatial development of the regional economy and should be implemented in compliance with the regional and national socio-economic growth strategy.

Aim. The presented study aims to substantiate a model for assessing the impact of network structures on regional socio-economic development in the Republic of Kazakhstan through the example of major regional telecommunications companies.

Tasks. The authors determine the role and place of the network structures of major regional telecommunications companies in the development of regional economies in the context of digitalization and provide a forecast of regional socio-economic development in the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the use of the resource potential of the network structures of major regional telecommunications companies.

Methods. This study uses systems analysis to examine the current state of regional economies, economic-mathematical modeling and forecasting of regional socio-economic development in the Republic of Kazakhstan with allowance for the impact of network structures in the telecommunications industry.

Results. The study substantiates the feasibility of using the resource potential of the network structures of major regional telecommunications companies for the spatial development of regional economies in the Republic of Kazakhstan. An economic-mathematical model is proposed, the application of which makes it possible to assess the impact of network structures in the telecommunications industry and to forecast the socio-economic development of macro-regions in the Republic of Kazakhstan based on improving management efficiency across the branch network of JSC Kazakhtelecom.

Conclusions. The conducted study shows that operation of network structures in the telecommunications industry has a significant impact on the spatial development of regional economies and stimulates the growth of gross regional product and population income in the regions. Thus, the urgency of developing the information and communication infrastructure in terms of structural modernization and balanced development of regional economies in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of digitalization is substantiated.

The presented study examines the theoretical framework and development models of organizations as social systems.

Aim. The study aims to examine the patterns of business development under a high degree of uncertainty as well as conditions and evidence of its transition to a new quality.

Tasks. The authors examine methods for efficient business management in the context of changes, investigate the major social system development models, and analyze the conditions, structure, and evidence of the transition of a business to a new quality.

Methods. This study uses general methods of scientific cognition to examine the evolution of perspectives on social development in various aspects, determines trends in the current state and development of the business as a social system, and identifies the major directions of changes.

Results. Any system develops under the influence of a complex interaction between external and internal forces by overcoming contradictions, negating the negation in the direction of becoming more complex and acquiring new qualities. The development and birth of a new order require a non-equilibrium and unstable state of the system, which has reached a critical value — bifurcation, a turning point. The system becomes sensitive to weak influences that will transform it until stability is achieved: 1) at a new level of complexity (self-organization); 2) or in one of its previous states (degradation), up to complete disorganization; 3) or in the current state (by changing the influence of forces). Thus, the crisis is associated with both the economic development cycles (regularity) and the unique circumstances of the nonlinear economic system. Therefore, each crisis requires diagnostics, analysis of its causes, and development of appropriate strategies for the specific situation.

Conclusions. Examination of various social system development models makes it possible to identify the urgent problems that the global economy and private business face: finding a new content and form of socio-economic relations that would allow individuals, different communities, and humanity as a whole to get out of an evolutionary impasse.

The presented study examines the feasibility of creating a municipal economic development pole based on a cultural facility using the public-private partnership mechanism.

Aim. The study aims to develop methodological proposals and recommendations regarding the implementation of a major investment project of public-private partnership — a multifunctional tourist and museum complex — in an urban area.

Tasks. The authors demonstrate the feasibility of creating a development pole within a municipality by transforming an existing museum into a modern multifunctional tourist and museum complex, determine the best way to mobilize investment resources, and develop the general organizational framework of project implementation.

Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition to examine in various aspects and to identify the current trends in the development of public-private partnership projects in the field of culture, and to determine the major directions for the organization of implementation of the investment project.

Results. The development of public-private partnership within a municipality involves finding new economic development poles for the transformation of the sectoral structure of the economy as well as new work places, extra-budgetary funding sources for the renovation and construction of infrastructure facilities, etc. The tourism industry has the potential to become one of such poles.

Conclusions. The feasibility of creating a new economic development pole within a municipality based on an investment project of public-private partnership is substantiated. The implementation of such a project involves transforming an existing museum complex into a modern multifunctional cultural center employing innovative technologies.

The presented study analyzes the current economic situation in which Russia is forced to exist.

Aim. The study aims to determine the prospects for economic cooperation between Russia and China and identify potential benefits and threats of such cooperation.

Tasks. The authors address the causes of the trade war between the US and China and examine the way this conflict escalated, its various manifestations and potential consequences for the Russian Federation.

Methods. This study is based on the benefits approach to foreign trade and uses general scientific methods of cognition, analysis of statistical data, and logical analysis.

Results. The study examines the concepts of sanctions, trade war, and economic development strategy, compares indicators that characterize the level of development and distinctive features of the two countries’ economies, analyzes the indicators of economic interaction between Russia and China, and substantiates the need to prioritize the development of the Russian economy.

Conclusions. To ensure national security, it is vital to take measures aimed at maximizing the realization of Russia’s potential.

Aim. The presented study aims to substantiate the selection of a sales forecasting method for a small enterprise.

Tasks. The authors systematize sales forecasting methods, define the constraints for the task, briefly describe the applied forecasting methods, forecast sales for a small enterprise using X different methods, compare forecasting data obtained using different methods with the actual sales data, and select a method that provides the most accurate result.

Methods. The scientific forecasting theory serves as the methodological basis of the study. This study also uses such general scientific methods as systems and complex approach, economic and statistical analysis, etc. to substantiate theoretical assumptions and rationalize the conclusions.

Results. A methodology for selecting a sales forecasting method for a small enterprise is proposed.

Conclusions. Small enterprises face the problem of forecasting the volume of sales of their products. The enterprise’s very existence often hinges on the accuracy of forecasting. According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that formalized methods based on the probability theory and statistics are the most appropriate for sales forecasting for small enterprises since they have the highest accuracy, which is critical for small enterprises in view of their limited resources.

The presented article analyzes the results of a study on the practical applications of digital technologies in staff selection, the intensity of such application, and the attitude of employees to the new, modern selection tools. This topic is rather relevant as there is currently no complete understanding of the degree of trust that companies have in digital technologies when it comes to staff selection. The interest of authors and researchers in the subject is growing, but it remains largely unexplored.

The aim of this study is to examine the practical applications of digital technologies in staff selection.

Tasks. The authors determine which digital technologies find application in staff selection, the degree of trust in them, and how accurate the results obtained using digital technologies for staff selection can be.

Methods. The study assesses the impact of digital technologies on staff selection. A number of large Russian companies from various industries that extensively use or intend to implement digital technologies in staff selection serve as the subject of the study, managers from various departments have been interviewed (including such companies as Kelly Services, Gazprom Neft, etc.). Sources of secondary data include quantitative and qualitative methods, such as: articles from highly rated and professional thematic journals; corporate websites; case studies of companies that extensively use digital technologies in staff selection; consulting reports; publicly available corporate documents and operating results; Internet resources; video recordings.

Results. The study shows that in modern companies, managers and employees are not yet ready to fully delegate crucial and final decisions on staff selection to digital technologies. Application of digital technologies does not contribute to the positive perception of selection as a more objective process, so it is better suited for mass selection.

Conclusions. Despite the lack of trust in digital technologies per se, the companies’ interest in using digital technologies in staff selection is growing and their application becomes obvious. The diversity of digital technologies allows companies to find the most appropriate technology to suit their needs.

Implementation of the ‘Digital economy of the Russian Federation’ national program should contribute to creating an economic environment where digital technology will be used to ensure efficient interaction between the business, scientific community, government, and population. Such interaction between economic agents in the context of digitalization requires a special regulatory system and new, relevant staff competencies.

Aim. The presented study aims to examine the transformation of accounting functions in the economic system at the stage of its digitalization, identify the most relevant directions for improving the quality of accounting, and develop a competency-based model for the training of accountants in modern Russia.

Tasks. The author determines the specific aspects of operation of accounting departments in the context of digitalization, identifies problems in the current accounting methodology and practice in Russia at the present stage, and formulates modern professional competencies that are necessary for accounting specialists to enhance their competitiveness in the labor market.

Methods. This study uses general scientific methods of cognition: observation, generalization, comparison, deduction and induction, analytical assessment of legal documents in the field of accounting and bookkeeping.

Results. In addition to the automation of accounting processes, accounting departments in the digital economy have undergone a number of changes that transformed the functionality of not just the accounting departments of organizations, but the profession of accountant in general. Most notably, such transformations require changes in the competency-based model for the training of accounting specialists, which should include new competencies, such as systems thinking, cross-sectoral communication, and emotional intelligence.

Conclusions. At the present stage, accounting does not have a sufficiently comprehensive methodology to perform its functions efficiently, which is a problem that needs to be addressed at the level of federal regulation. One potential way of resolving this issue involves using international experience and practices related to accounting and reflecting certain types of assets and information in the accounts, namely, those that have emerged and become relevant in the context of the digitalization of specific business processes and the national economy as a whole.

The presented study examines the role of management decisions in entrepreneurship and determines the types and ways of making management decisions as well as the prerequisites for making them.

Aim. The study aims to determine the importance of management decision-making in entrepreneurship.

Tasks. The authors formulate the definition of management decision and examine decision-making techniques, consider the potential risks in management decision-making and assess their impact on entrepreneurship, classify the types of management decisions and identify major problems that can be solved by management decisions.

Methods. This study analyzes the activities of large and small enterprises and identifies common features and differences in management decision-making. Analytical tools are used to identify the prerequisites for management decisions and concepts of management decision-making.

Results. Conditions for making the most efficient management decision for large and small enterprises are formulated. The main principles of management decision-making in entrepreneurship are identified.

Conclusions. A definition of management decisions in entrepreneurship is formulated. The types of management decisions and ways of making them are classified. The reasons and prerequisites for the development of management decisions in entrepreneurship are identified. The risks of management decision-making and their impact on entrepreneurship are analyzed.