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The relevance of the investigated problem is caused by the necessity of changes in holding company's management systems to address the strategic problems of the region. The purpose of the study is to develop a method of forming teams at the corporate level for the coordination and implementation of programs for the implementation of reforms and their subsequent impact on the institutional environment of the region. The leading approach to the study of the problem is systemic and situational approach in the framework of the theory and methodology of innovation management that allow to analyze the change management features in the company. The following results were obtained from the study: analyzed regionally significant holding companies which have a significant impact on the socio-economic indicators. Article Submissions may be useful for organizations engaged in development, as well as consultants and experts on issues of innovation and production management. with the proposed mechanism can plan and implement economic development, in which the organization will be ensured current stability, long-term sustainability, the pace of development of the relevant market situation.

This article discusses the changes in Russian higher education policies and the role of international organizations--the World Bank and OECD--in promoting education reforms in this country. General and specific recommendations offered by the World Bank and the OECD expert teams to improve Russian higher education are analysed to determine if any of their suggestions have been considered and applied in recent government policies. We explore the mechanisms though which new policies are implemented at the institutional and national levels. Finally, we suggest that higher education institutions and the Russian government experience coercive, mimetic, normative and discursive pressures emanating from these global policy actors.

A study of 19 private schools in St. Petersburg, Russia, including ethnic, religious, and elite schools, found a precarious situation of legal contradictions about their status, dealings with corrupt bureaucrats, and financial instability. The current socioeconomic crisis will likely diminish their number and diversity. Private schools' survival depends on economic stabilization and protection of minority rights. (Contains 41 references.) (Author/SV)

This article aims to analyze Russia's efforts, both domestically and internationally, to combat illicit crab harvesting and safeguard its marine resources. A comparison of total crab imports and allowable catch in Russian waters from 1990 to 2022 indicates a peak in shadow activities during the mid-2000s, with a cessation of large-scale illegal fishing observed since 2013. A narrative analysis of institutional shifts reveals that the bolstering of internal oversight, heightened accountability for harvesters, and enhanced global cooperation have been pivotal in fostering these positive dynamics. Concerning trends, however, emerged towards the beginning of the current decade, indicating potential instability within the legal framework of the crab industry. Persistent statistical discrepancies in trade with South Korea, diminishing institutional capacities within Russia to combat shadow activities, and heightened media scrutiny of illicit crab harvesting underscore the need for sustained vigilance in addressing both internal and external dimensions of this multifaceted problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 26 May 2011, the Russian People's World Council issued a document entitled The Basic Values: The Fundaments of National Unity. The document, prepared by the Synodal Department for Church–Society Cooperation, provided a catalogue of 17 traditional values whose general framework was constituted by a combination of freedom, unity, patriotism, family, and devotion. At that time, the Moscow Patriarchate considered religious faith to be the foundation of traditional values and it continues to do so. The defence and promotion of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values were also central in the Russian National Security Strategy (2015); this was the case in the updated version of this document as well, put out in July 2021. Furthermore, they have been the core of the Moscow Patriarchate's participation in the Council of Europe and of Patriarch Kirill's speeches about the war in Ukraine. Finally, on 9 November 2022, The Foundations Of State Policy For The Preservation Of Spiritual And Moral Values was approved. This framework permits us to understand the strict interplay between the Church and the State in the Russian Federation and to see why it is important to refer to the concept of post-secularism when talking about the role of religion in post-Soviet Russia. Proceeding from the Abstract, the present paper aims to analyse this interplay in a specific sector of visual culture: the cinema and television industries. Manuel Castells highlighted the relevance of cultural values in the age of information and the connection between the values and social mobilization that follows it. He pointed out that the Internet has become a way to render this connection predominant, inevitably leading to the development of social movements and networks that have a religious basis. This is unquestionably true; surveys conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (OJSC «VCIOM») and by Nevafilm Research confirm that a high percentage of Russians watch films not only at the cinema or on television (especially the older generations) but also on the Internet (as far as the younger generations are concerned). The importance of this market is also confirmed by the success of the cinema and TV distributor Orthodox Encyclopaedia (2005); in the words of the philosopher Sergei Kravets, who, commenting on it during an interview published in 2006 by the website Sedmits.ru, declared that the expression "orthodox cinema" can be understood as a way to express Russian culture. He asserts that "the fact that today Orthodox films have begun to appear on the central TV channels testifies that Russian film producers and viewers have apparently begun to be aware of themselves as Orthodox, to feel that they are bearers of a special Orthodox culture. [..]". At the same time, consideration should be given to the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Minister of Culture's condemnation of films such as Matilda or Monastery. In addition, it is important to consider that, according to a survey conducted in 2022 by the Levada Center, Russian people consider television the most reliable source of information (54%). The long-term implications of this tendency may have very important effects, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the consideration that, after the beginning of the war, many Western film distributors withdrew their licenses from Russia. This paper will analyse "the effect of religion on the institutional system, the regulatory environment of the media and the public sphere" by studying the features of films and TV programs distributed by Orthodox Encyclopaedia, their relations with traditional values promoted both by the Kremlin and the Church, how these have contributed to strengthening the interplay between the Minister of Culture and the Moscow Patriarchate, and the impact this process has had on Russian society and Russia's relations with the European and Western World in the 2005–2022 period. A list of the films and TV programs being discussed will be provided, and then statements about the project and reviews of the serials and films will be analysed. The analysis will be conducted mainly through the official sites of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin and by browsing the Integrum database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores a unique phenomenon of systemic companies and their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in a weak institutional environment and extensive institutional voids that push them to take diverse obligations. The paper uses the data from 223 Russian public companies and employs conventional statistical methods to test hypotheses. Our results show that systemic companies are inclined to disclose information about their CSR activities, especially, in their social dimension due to their social obligations in the local markets and necessity to gain legitimacy in host markets. Moreover, Russian companies with international activities are more active in CSR disclosure than purely domestic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, the rapid evolution of digital platform technology has triggered significant shifts in competition law. Many have interpreted China's recent moves as signaling a broader crackdown on private entrepreneurship. In Russia, even before the invasion of Ukraine, government policy became increasingly restrictive toward foreign internet platforms. This paper analyzes the development and enforcement of competition law in Russia and China. We show that both technologically driven changes in the ability of digital platform firms to exercise market power and changes in the external political environment affect the relative strength and coalitions of interested bureaucratic actors and influence policy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dixi is the property of Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examines the impact of institutional shifts on the strategic choices of Russian firms. It proposes and tests hypotheses of how a shift from a weak to a strong institutional context is likely to affect firms' knowledge accumulation, absorptive capacities and internalisation of operations. Using discriminant analysis, the econometric investigation demonstrates that firms tend to allocate greater resources towards improving their knowledge and absorptive capacity and make more efforts to vertically integrate—in line with improvements in the institutional environment. These investments ensure the survivability and competitiveness of firms in the long term. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the long-term strategic orientation of firms goes hand in hand with rising resource allocations by the nation-state towards economic development. The findings align with the institutionalist political economy views that institutions are the ultimate overseers that allow the market to operate efficiently, especially in emerging market environments. The paper is also instructive to other developing economies about the need to strengthen their institutional environments, which supports the long-term orientation of firms and has a positive impact on economic development. The analysis does not take into account the impact of sanctions on Russian business and economy, post the annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict with Ukraine. Nor does it consider the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. As such, the study attempts to constitute an untainted comparison of two paths of transition on Russian firms—shock therapy, vis-à-vis, an institutional political economy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the institutional factors that influence the development of think tanks in different political systems, with a focus on Russia and Turkey. It identifies various institutional factors such as the structure of the decision-making process, the type of regime, bureaucratic structure, level of democratization, approach of decision-makers, presence of pluralism, effectiveness of political parties, strength of foundations, legal norms, state of civil society, presence of an open public debate culture, and autonomy of the business world that influence the operation of think tanks. The study examines the similarities and differences between the institutional environment of Russia and Turkey, provides examples of how political and institutional factors in different periods in Turkey and Russia have had a facilitating or complicating effect on the establishment and development of think tanks. This paper contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of institutional factors in the formation, development, role, and structure of think tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article was to establish the interrelations and mutual influence of organizational culture transformation, national culture, and innovative business models' formation under the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve the study goal, a multi-stage comprehensive exploratory study based on primary information obtained by expert interviewing was implemented. The developed methodological approach was tested on the example of small and medium-sized enterprises in Russia and China. As a result of the conducted testing, the previously formulated hypotheses were fully proved. H1: the negative shock of the pandemic and the ensuing quarantine restrictions caused critical changes in the business environment, cancelling the relevance of previously effective business models. H2: the new business environment required enterprises to significantly transform their organizational culture. H3: under the conditions of shock changes in the business environment and forced transformation of organizational culture the main condition for the sustainable development of enterprises is innovative business models. Н4: implementation of innovative business models depends on both the business environment and the influence of national culture. The main obstacles to the implementation of innovative business models in small and medium-sized enterprises were also identified. The developed methodological approach can be used in the real sector of the economy by state organizations and non-state funds in the development of programs to assist small and medium-sized businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the study results may be of interest to academic researchers, suggesting empirically determined stable relationships (hypotheses H1, H2, H3, H4) between the transformation of organizational culture, national culture, and innovative business models' formation to ensure sustainable development of enterprises under the COVID-19 pandemic and opening new promising directions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores the changing shape of transitions from education to employment amongst deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHOH) youth in Russia. It draws on survey and interview data to show that, despite the formal institution of inclusive policies and legal frameworks at the state level, the choices open to DHOH youth remain heavily limited, and become narrower at each stage of their transitions to adulthood. This narrowing of horizons and attendant marginalisation stems from the ongoing salience of disabling, medical approaches to deafness; a lack of enabling practices or resources to support DHOH youth in the education system; and widespread discrimination from employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different business environments may have differential impacts. The improvement in the institutional environment and increased certainty about the future greatly impact entrepreneurial activity and business results. The reform of inspection and regulatory enforcement activities aims at improving the business environment, i.e., property, lawful rights, and interests against a variety of risks. Although the reform has been ongoing for several years in Russia, no systematic, independent evaluation of its efficiency and impact on the business efficiency at the meso-level of the Russian economic system has yet been implemented. The research aimed to investigate administrative barriers to business in (1) subdivisions of the Russian Federation on the example of monitoring and supervision activities of state bodies, and (2) the provision of public services. Besides, we measured the impact of administrative regulation on the effectiveness of entrepreneurial activity in the region. Findings from this research are useful in managerial practice, and for academic researchers and policymakers in emerging economies to adopt and consider to improve further the contribution of the administrative regulation institutions in regional economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of scientific and technological development in the Russian Federation is to ensure the independence and competitiveness of the country. The effectiveness of research and development is primarily determined by institutional environment and design. This paper aims to determine the dynamics of the Russian governance of science and technology in the pursuit of technological sovereignty. The methodology of the research includes a comparative and logicallinguistic analysis of legal acts, an assessment of the management readiness of scientific governance institutions. The method of decomposition, structural and functional analysis allowed us to draw conclusions on the extent of the system's dynamic balance, which is maintained by continual administrative reforms, goals prioritization, and effective allocation of resources. The results of the study can be used by public authorities to improve the state policy in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the specifics of the relationship between audit committee characteristics and earnings management in Russian listed companies. This research is driven by the possibility of placing this relationship within the context of a specific institutional environment for company performance. Design/methodology/approach: The authors apply a panel study of 184 Russian listed companies for the period 2014–2018. In addition to the standard fixed effects model, the authors test the results for potential endogeneity with two-stage least squares (2SLS) analysis. Findings: The results show that audit committee representation on the board of directors results in some mitigation of earnings management. Results reveal that a higher level of audit committee independence and the presence of financial expertise on the committee are associated with lower earnings management. However, companies with relatively busy directors on audit committees are more inclined to practice earnings management. The study's findings hold after testing for endogeneity of audit committee independence. The authors also reveal that some audit committee characteristics (for example, audit committee independence; its level of expertise) alleviate earnings management in listed state-owned companies (SOEs) more strongly than in listed non-SOEs. Originality/value: The results add to the ongoing debate on the role of corporate governance mechanisms in mitigating earnings management in emerging markets by taking into account the type of ownership (state-owned vs private) as a moderating variable. This study reveals, in particular, that the effect of certain audit committee characteristics on earnings management is more prominent in listed SOEs than in listed non-SOEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to fully investigate the activities of the Federal Universities of Russia in the context of various aspects of development and to find appropriate comprehensive assessment methods that can be applied to modern universities that meet the best global standards. The main methods of research are comparative analysis and the formation of qualimetric models based on synthetically selected evaluation criteria. Structural changes in the activities of Russian federal universities have been analyzed. Authors analyze scientific, educational and social activities and other parameters. Particular attention is paid to the development of the ecosystem of innovations in Russian federal universities, its constituent elements and the peculiarities of their functioning. The study provides an opportunity to combine various aspects in the model of university activities. The article presents a comparative analysis of the development of federal universities and their ranking by integrated assessment. The development of communication channels between the academic community and mass audiences was analyzed, also the publication activity of federal universities was evaluated. The authors propose the main methods and sources of collection, processing and verification of disparate information on the state of innovation ecosystems in Russian federal universities. The proposed methodology, unlike existing approaches, allows a comprehensive assessment of the successful and underdeveloped activities of modern universities in both statistics and dynamics. The conclusion of the work is the need for a comprehensive analysis of federal universities by building a qualification parametric model on a regular basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How did Vladimir Putin manage to turn the vociferous political opposition of the 1990s in Russia into a mere statist? I argue that among the wide array of instruments mastered by Putin's regime, the control over the organisational environment stands apart. By regulating the formation and maintenance of the political organisations, the regime was able to divide the opposition into its 'systemic' and 'non-systemic' components. The restrictions on the organisational development set limits to the societal outreach of the opposition. Finally, by manipulating the rules of access to the institutional arenas and resource flows, the regime fostered differential stimuli for the opposition groups that made the coordination among them unlikely. This article suggests that not less than being informational or coercive, the autocracies like Russia under Vladimir Putin have to control the organisational environment in order to keep the opposition at bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the effects of institutional environments across developed and emerging markets on buyer–supplier cooperation. It empirically examines a Business-to-Business relational exchange model of trust-building, commitment and cooperative behaviors within firms in the USA and countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual model and accompanying research hypotheses are tested on a sample of buyers from the USA (n = 169), Brazil (n = 110), China (n = 100), Russia (n = 100) and India (n = 100). Structural equation modeling is used to test the relationships in the model. Findings: Findings suggest that approaches to achieve successful cooperation vary across countries and depend on the interaction between formal and informal institutions present in each country. Results show that buyers from India and China place relatively greater emphasis on conflict resolution and commitment, whereas buyers from Brazil and Russia rely more on trust in their efforts to create cooperative relationships. For US buyers, formality and quality of communication and functional benefits are key factors in fostering trust, commitment and cooperation. Practical implications: A conceptual framework is advanced that extends traditional westernized and China-only perspectives of relational exchanges to a more universal context. Results suggest that suppliers understand how their buyers' country-level institutional environment shapes their partnership legitimacy and relational motivations at the transaction level. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine buyer–supplier relational exchanges through the lenses of transaction cost, social exchange and institutional theories using the USA and BRIC nations as proxies for examination of institutional effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of International Entrepreneurship is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study provides new insights into the internal dynamics and international integration of non-rentier sectors in Russia. Our approach consists in analysing the evolution of two non-rentier industries (agri-food and software), focusing on three groups of variables characterising their institutional environment, namely the macroeconomic context, public policies, and private strategies pursued by the main players. Based on the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data coming from field surveys and statistical databases, we introduce distinct forms of international integration that shed light on the players' strategies in adapting to changes in macroeconomic variables. The following paradox emerged: although the macroeconomic constraints stemming from rent should have hindered the development of non-rentier sectors in a scheme characteristic of the classical 'Dutch disease' framework, we have observed that these two industries have been able to continue to develop, each following its own path. Our analysis shows that the mix of constraints and opportunities faced by these industries has shaped their partial autonomy vis-à-vis the rent-based 'accumulation regime' characteristic of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years the literature exploring the state dependent nature of individual self-rated health has grown rapidly. We contribute to this 'reporting heterogeneity' research field in two main ways. First, we are among the few studies to examine the determinants of reporting heterogeneity in self-rated health in the Russian context. Second, echoing the social determinants of health literature, we augment the standard battery of individual level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics with aggregated macro level variables serving as proxies for local environmental and social conditions. We are not aware of other heterogeneity studies that have incorporated this approach. Estimating a generalized ordered probit model we resolve the identification problem through the inclusion of an objective disease index. In terms of reporting heterogeneity, we find that response behaviour is systematically influenced by individual characteristics but also by aggregate regional socioeconomic characteristics. In particular, the finding that an individual's relative standing in their local economy can condition their response to subjective health questionnaires is important and merits further examination. We argue that both a relative income mechanism and a mechanism that links the cognitive process of choice with the sense of optimism that individuals have for their institutional environment are plausible explanations for the observed aggregate level effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore whether organized clusters can act as institutional entrepreneurs to create conditions favorable to innovation in their constituent members. We view self-aware and organized clusters as "context-embedded meta-organizations" which engage in deliberate decision- and strategy-making. As such, clusters are not only shaped by their environments, as "traditional" cluster approaches suggest but can also act upon these. Their ability to act as "change agents" is crucial in countries with high institutional barriers to innovation, such as most transition economies. Focusing on Russia, we conduct two cluster case studies to analyze the strategies these adopt to alter and shape their institutional environments. We find that clusters have a dual role as institutional entrepreneurs. First, these can act collectively to shape their environments due to the power they wield. Second, they can be mechanisms empowering their constituent actors, fostering their reflexivity and creativity, and allowing them to engage in institutional entrepreneurship. Moreover, both collective and individual cluster actors adopt "bricolage" approaches to institutional entrepreneurship to compensate for the lack of resources or institutional frameworks or avoid the pressures of ineffective institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how institutional conditions affect food security at the national level. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research with the usage of the methods of institutional, evolutionary, comparative and retrospective analysis is performed in this paper. During the study, emphasis was placed on the theory of sustainable development, the theory of economic security, the theory of economic systems and the theory of competitive advantages. Findings: Food security policies can be based on the use of the liberal or conservative paradigm. The liberal paradigm focuses on food supply. The conservative paradigm also considers food independence. The growth of global instability has led to increased use of the conservative paradigm. Within the framework of these paradigms, four alternative models of food security have been proposed: "Pure" market, procurement, distribution, directive. For their selection, the matrix method was used. The combination of market and nonmarket management methods in the production and distribution of food is considered. Each of the models is given a meaningful interpretation, and their strengths and weaknesses are identified, the conditions of applicability and efficiency factors are indicated. Originality/value: The failure of the authorities to provide the population with access to food is largely determined by institutional factors. The system of national institutions sets limits for food security. The main limitations are: technological, land, labor, infrastructure, cluster, ecological. To overcome them, it is recommended to use the tools of innovative, scientific, technological, migration, financial, investment, cluster, sustainable development and other types of state policies. Institutional shocks that lead to crises have a significant impact on food security. The study, using the example of Russia, shows that effective institutional overcoming of them is possible using the conservative paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper adopts a multilevel approach to explore how socially responsible consumer behavior (SRCB) is shaped by a combination of micro‐level psychological drivers and specifics of the institutional context in which the behavior is performed. The model first applies the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to test the effects of TPB‐based behavioral predictors on the SRCB. Broad‐scope trust in business (BST) is then applied to the model as a variable that characterizes quality of an informal institutional environment, hypothesizing that BST moderates the relationship between TPB‐based behavioral antecedents and SRCB. The paper is based on a survey of 466 Russian consumers. Data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires completed by students and alumni of a large public university in Moscow. Results show that BST moderates the effects of TPB‐based predictors on SRCB. This implies that consumers who believe that the business is overall trustworthy are more likely to take company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) into account when making purchasing decisions. This study contributes to the multilevel research on SRCB and CSR and adds to the literature on public trust in business as a nascent area of study. Its findings are especially relevant for companies operating in low‐trust environments, including postsocialist economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is formatted as a written response disputing the material of Iu.P. Voronov's "Without Relying on a Pension," which can be found in this issue. It calls into question the author's proposal that Russia partially introduce a system of lifetime employment similar to that in Japan. This article shows that the Japanese system functions on the basis of complementary social institutions, each of which produces serious socioeconomic systemic defects. In particular, it leads to increased exploitation of workers, especially younger and older workers, and incites employers to seek the early retirement of older workers. Thus, the economic position of these workers deteriorates. Lifetime employment cannot be adopted partially. This is confirmed by the experience of the United States and Europe, where this term mistakenly refers to a system of open-ended (permanent) work contracts. An analysis of changes in the institutional environments of the Japanese, European, and U.S. labor markets shows that lifetime employment is gradually being modified in Japan and is in fact dying out. Permanent contracts are also gradually dying out in Western countries, since the change in technological paradigm (digital transformation) requires a more flexible labor market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espacios is the property of Talleres de Impresos Oma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article reviews the evolution the rural self-government system in Russia over the last 15 years. Following the adoption of a federal law in 2003, the active institutionalization of local self-government was replaced by a tendency to restrict the power and autonomy of municipalities—especially at the level of the rural administrations that are closest to the people. The lack of financing for local budgets became a major factor in restricting rural development. Local self-government was introduced into the system of government at the lowest, most dependent and resource-limited level of the power vertical. As part of the present field study, the author conducted interviews with rural administrators representing settlements in Siberian regions. These interviews constitute a "bottom up" view of the ongoing transformations and illuminate the reactions of rural communities to the changes in the external institutional environment. It is shown that an answer to the challenges of reform is the development of informal practices, which facilitate the self-organization of the population and serve as a compensatory mechanism. In such a system, the role of rural administrative leaders considerably increases as they initiate and organize complex projects that demand the cooperation and solidarity of local residents in order to solve common problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK—or North Korea) economic exchanges with Russia and the European Union (EU) from an institutional perspective. Trade statistics show that between 2000 and 2012, the DPRK conducted more trade with the EU than with Russia, its neighbor and former socialist ally. This observation provokes the following questions: In what way does the institutional environment in Russia and the EU impact on economic exchanges with the DPRK? Why have Russia's economic exchanges with the DPRK remained limited despite a common land border? Of particular interest is the cooperation between the Russian Far East (RFE) and North Korea. What does the institutional set-up in the RFE imply for business opportunities in North Korea? To examine the so far little researched role of the RFE, this study uses quantitative and qualitative data provided by the Russian Federal Customs Service and the district governments of Khabarovsk and Primorye. The findings show that political, legal, and normative factors as well as different business practices impact on economic exchanges with the DPRK in various ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marketing performance in times of crises is an important research issue in contemporary marketing. The main idea in papers dealing with crisis marketing behavior is highlighting the crucial role of marketing in a crisis context. Our study shows that this is not always the case. There are different types of situations where a simplification of marketing is evident, the system of marketing in a company deteriorates, and marketing is downgraded to a function of mainly sales, and these situations are obviously not exceptions. The present study is aimed at understanding the reasons for the evident contradiction between crisis marketing theory and some empirical cases. The other objective is to understand the mechanisms of marketing simplification in times of crisis. The paper focuses on marketing behavior of companies operating in Russia during the current (2014-2017) crisis, and takes into account the specifics of the marketing environment and the influences from the system of management on marketing, one of its subsystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource management is essential for any organisation's success. For non-profit organisations (NPOs) volunteers are a key resource. In this article, we examine how NPOs recruit, mobilise and manage volunteers in a challenging institutional and operational context. By drawing on a qualitative study of Russian health NPOs, our study highlights that the operational and institutional environment encountered by Russian NPOs leads to 'management by network' to acquire necessary volunteer resources. This pragmatic approach, whilst ensuring an organisation's short-term survival, ultimately limits the type of volunteer recruited by Russian NPOs. The implications of these findings are also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific assessment of the quality of innovation development institutions plays an important role in the modernization of regional innovation systems. At present, the scientific tools that allow us to assess the quality of innovation development institutions are not sufficiently developed, which limits the opportunities for institutional design of the regional economy. The goal of this study is to develop a systems-based approach to assessing the effectiveness of the institutional structure of regional innovation systems, and to identify the factors that determine the quality of innovation development institutions. Functional cost analysis is the basis of the methodological approach. Results of the research showed that an increase in financing the regional innovations resulted in a positive effect only in a third of the total number of the explored regions. In other cases, activation of innovative activity did not happen. Such result is explained partially by the lack of regional innovation systems (RIS) institutions in particular regions. The results of the analysis showed that the institutional environment of the regional innovation system in polyethnic regions plays an important, but not critical role. Socio-cultural factors and informal institutions have much more significant value; they either promote or interfere with the performance of RIS functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural science has a large number of completed developments that can significantly improve the efficiency of production and there is a need for mechanisms for their implementation. The purpose of the article is to clarify the methodological provisions of the assessment of scientific and intellectual potential, and identify priorities of such an activity, as well as substantiate scientific and methodological foundations of formation of the mechanism of implementation of the priorities found. The article summarizes the approaches to the assessment of innovations. Key indicators of the knowledge economy are adapted to assess the scientific and intellectual potential of the agri-food complex. In the study, the calculation of specific indicators of efficiency and effectiveness of the scientific and intellectual potential was made, and trends were revealed in the influence of the increase research expenditures on increasing the innovative activity. The analysis of statistical information showed that differentiation of the regions of the Russian Federation in terms of the level and effectiveness of innovative development is increasing, which indicates the need to strengthen the mechanisms of regulation of innovative development. The study discusses the features of the use of interrelated mechanisms of scientific and intellectual potential of the agri-food complex. It is proposed to increase the effectiveness of the institutional environment through the formation of regional centers of forecasting and scientific and technical policy. The directions of transformation of the Russian institutional environment and innovative infrastructure which allow applying the specified mechanisms in agri-food complex at the regional level are offered in the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review a series of interrelated studies on the development of children residing in institutions (i.e., orphanages) in the Russian Federation or placed with families in the USA and the Russian Federation. These studies rely on a single population, and many potential parameters that typically vary in the literature are similar across studies. The conceptual focus is on the role of early caregiver-child interactions and environmental factors that influence those interactions in children's development. Generally, children residing in institutions that provided minimal caregiver-child interactions displayed delayed physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Children and adolescents adopted from such institutions at 18 months of age or older had higher rates of behavioral and executive function problems, even many years after adoption. An intervention that improved the institutional environment by increasing the quality of caregiver-child interactions-without changes in nutrition, medical care, sanitation, and safety-led to substantial increases in the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development of resident children with and without disabilities. Follow-up studies of children in this intervention who were subsequently placed with USA and Russian families revealed some longer-term benefits of the intervention. Implications are discussed for theoretical understanding of the role of early caregiver-child interactions in development as well as for practice and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors claim that the level of competition is the crucial factor in economic growth of an industry market. The study aims to develop a method for assessing power asymmetry in various industry markets. The proposed method is based on the analysis of the structure of industry and related markets, as well as on the assessment of the state support for the sector. The empirical base is the data obtained from 42 Russian industry markets. The results demonstrate a significant differentiation of the power asymmetry level in Russia's industry markets and make it possible to improve the assessment of inequality in industry markets. The research results are of an applied nature and can serve as the basis for designing a strategy for industrial enterprises development. The findings of the study can also be useful to public authorities when framing competition policy and assessing the effect of the power asymmetry level on economic growth of the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design: This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings: Political connections are crucial for firms when formal institutions have been reduced or upheaved. Whilst they play less of a part when institutional voids have been filled, political connections remain a strategic consideration of all firms operating in the market. Originality: The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the results of a survey of Russia's executives on their perceptions of the environment, strategies, and organizational climate of their companies and their own leadership style in two time periods: 2010–2012 and 2013–2014. We reveal the dynamics of fit among the environment, strategy, leadership, and organizational climate. The results suggest that Russian executives’ inability to delegate authority obstructs the proper realization of strategies better suited to turbulent business environments. Thereby, we may anticipate that Russian enterprises’ adaptation to new (post-sanctions) business realities will be slow and incomplete; misfits in organizational design will restrain the repertoire and impede the implementation of effective and efficient rescue measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A public policy scholar sets out to investigate the reasons behind the exceptionally high interest rates for mortgage loans in Russia. The article argues that this situation can be explained by examining Russian government policy making in the area of housing finance during the post-Soviet period. Following comparative literature, the process of policy development over time is argued to be determined by the interaction of such factors as policy legacies, policy ideas, institutional environment and actors' interests. The article demonstrates how the agency model of housing finance was institutionalised in policy during the 1990s. The initial appeal of this model to the interest of diverse actors at different levels of government is explained. The subsequent evolution of this model towards the formation of a ‘state-led model of housing finance’ over the recent decade is traced and its limitations in producing sufficient volumes of mortgage funding are highlighted. The analysis, in addition, demonstrates that alternative policy ideas with the potential to generate extra volumes of mortgage finance are also available in Russia within the relevant policy community. Their adoption in policy is, however, presently blocked by the interests of the top policy officials seeking to increase and maintain the central role of the Russian state in directing the country's economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russian human resource management (HRM) practices remain durable even with the onslaught of economic change and exposure to global HRM practices and international competition. Based on survey results of 201 CEOs of domestic industrial companies located in central regions of Russia we identify the resilient archetype of Russian HRM system. Even companies that have achieved high levels of profitability or those that engage in innovations continue to practice retrograde HRM techniques left over from an earlier era. We are able to identify strategic misfits that are a direct result of the continuation of rigid HRM system that prevents the development of an organizational climate to support innovative or dynamic firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the suggested five-pillar institutional framework, the study empirically investigates the impact of the institutional environment on internationalization aspirations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies and maps their strategic responses against imposed institutional pressures. The data collected across five forest cluster SMEs in Saint Petersburg and Moscow are analyzed. Political instability, corruption, bounded cognition, over-patriotism, and high power distance act as the main constraints, while demands for new knowledge and funding are identified as the main drivers for internationalization. The classified institutional challenges are mapped against the possible strategic responses of the SMEs, such as acquiescence, compromise, avoidance, defiance, and manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigate how the regional institutional environment--in particular, the political environment--affects Russian new firm entry across regions, industries, firm size classes, and time. We find that entry rates in Russia are explained by natural entry rates and the institutional environment. Industries that are characterized by low entry barriers in developed market economies are found to have lower entry rates in regions subject to greater political fluidity, as in the case of gubernatorial change. We also find that higher levels of political fluidity and democracy increase relative entry rates for small-sized firms but reduce them for medium-sized or large ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the interrelationships among the domestic institutional environment for entrepreneurship, a firm’s innovation capability, and an SME’s decision to grow using an internationalization or innovation-based strategy. The effects of both the external institutional environment and the internal dynamic capabilities on the firm’s subsequent performance are evaluated. Cross-sectional cross-industry data from 188 Russian SMEs were collected in order to address these issues. The results suggest that the initial decision of an SME to pursue an internationalization strategy is influenced by conditions in the cognitive institutional environment and the SME’s internal ability to innovate. The initial decision to pursue innovation-based growth, however, is affected only by a firm’s internal factors. However, the growth outcome depends on the normative institutional environment, in other words on favorable societal attitudes to the phenomenon of international entrepreneurship. The paper demonstrates the complexity of institution-based and resource-based factors that affect SME growth in emerging economies, and provides recommendations concerning strategic policy objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The primary purpose of this study was to explore the unique impact of individual differences (e.g. gender, managerial experience), social culture, ethical leadership, and ethical climate on the manner in which individuals analyse and interpret an organisational scenario. Furthermore, we sought to explore whether the manner in which a scenario is initially interpreted by respondents (i.e. as a legal issue, ethical issue, and/or ethical dilemma) influenced subsequent recognition of the relevant stakeholders involved and the identification of intra- and extra-organisational variables significant to the scenario depicted. Data for this study were anonymously collected from professional samples in Russia (Moscow region) and in New Zealand. Findings show a strong effect of social culture (i.e. working in New Zealand or working in Russia) on the manner in which respondents characterised the scenario, on the experience of ethical climate and ethical leadership in their organisations, and on the ability to identify intra- and extra-organisational variables responsible for the situation presented in the scenario, above and beyond other individual and contextual factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Using two large surveys of manufacturing firms conducted in 2005 and 2009, a team ol researchers ut the Institute for Industrial and Market Studies (IIMS) of the Higher Shool of Economics (HSE) examines firm behavior over time, looking at drivers of firm behavior and the business climate in Russia with a focus on changes in the pre-crisis period. Changes in six critical areas of restructuring are examined: the institutional environment; growth; technology; innovation; corporate governance; and management. Relations between firms and various levels of gov- ernment are also examined. The degree to which the manut ad tiring sector is market oriented and its potential to drive economic growth are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economies in transition such as Russia's are among the world's fastest growing. Entrepreneurial firms in an environment like Russia's face rapid and dramatic shifts in the institutional environment. These shifts represent significant challenges to entrepreneurial firms as they seek not only to survive but also to prosper in that environment by rapidly co-evolving with institutional changes. Prior research has focused on institutional change and its impact in developed economies. But the rate of evolution of institutions in transition economies tends to be faster and less predictable. This article reports a longitudinal study of high technology entrepreneurial firms in Russia employing a grounded theory methodology to understand how entrepreneurial ventures co-evolve with rapid institutional changes and still manage to prosper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of exploratory field research investigating the impact of the enabling institutional environment and internal firm capabilities in the information technology sector in St. Petersburg, Russia. Through a series of semi-structured interviews and confirmatory research through the UNDP and UNIDO, the study finds the emerging institutional environment remains weak, unpredictable and unstable, creating challenges for SMEs to contribute to the growth and development of the Russian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]