Conditions For Sustainable Economic Development Research Articles

Человеческий капитал сельских регионов современного Китая

The purpose of the article is to analyze the results of actual theoretical and empirical studies of the process of accumulation of human capital in rural regions of China at the present stage of economic development. The PRC is still a country with a large proportion of the population living and working in rural regions. That is why the sustainability of the development of these regions and the country’s economy as a whole is largely determined by the peculiarities of the development of the labor resources of Chinese villages. The process of accumulation of human capital in rural regions plays an important role in China’s economic and social policy, as well as in solving the problem of ‘sannun’. The process of accumulation of human capital is influenced by three groups of interrelated factors: urbanization with Chinese characteristics, the level and quality of life, infrastructure and socio-institutional environment. The results of a comprehensive analysis of the influence of these groups of factors led to the conclusion that an elementary increase in public investment in the agricultural sector and rural regions of the PRC against the background of the development of free market relations, urbanization and income differentiation is not enough to ensure conditions for sustainable economic development and solving this problem. The role of human capital in the development of rural regions of China will increase only with the provision of opportunities to create an effective infrastructure and a favorable socio-institutional environment for its accumulation

ОЦІНКА БАНКІВСЬКОГО СЕКТОРУ УКРАЇНИ

The article examines the banking sector of Ukraine, which is an important part of the financial system of any country, and its stability, stability and efficiency – one of the conditions for sustainable economic development. In modern conditions for the development of the national economy, the main task of the banking sector of Ukraine can be attributed to the effective redistribution of available financial resources among all economic entities (government, businesses and households). Due to the concentration of financial resources and directing them in the form of credit flows to priority sectors of the economy, banks play a very important role in the economic development of the state. In general, about 90% of all available financial services are provided through the banking sector of Ukraine. Today, the banking sector of Ukraine faces significant challenges, it is in a situation of deteriorating functioning. This is due to the effects of the international financial crisis, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and, in this regard, reduced production, a significant increase in both public and private spending, reduced consumer purchasing power, reduced entrepreneurial activity, suspension of investment. This, in turn, poses a number of challenges for the banking sector of Ukraine to create sources of financial resources for effective investment in the state economy and ensure efficiency in the implementation of economic processes of reproduction at the level of economic entities. In addition, Ukraine's banking sector is key to ensuring long-term growth and increasing the competitiveness of the national economy. This can be achieved through the effective redistribution of available, temporarily free, financial resources of both households and state-supported businesses. All this confirms the relevance of the study of the current state of the banking sector of Ukraine, assessing trends in its development and impact on the stability of the national economy in crisis. Assessment of the level of the banking sector in Ukraine shows that by the beginning of 2022 a strong enough base has been formed in the country to withstand modern economic challenges (COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, global financial and food crisis).

КРИТЕРІЇ ОПТИМІЗАЦІЇ СТРАТЕГІЧНИХ ЦІЛЕЙ ЕКОНОМІЧНОГО РОЗВИТКУ

The article considers the development of the socio-economic system as a qualitative transformation of the system, which leads to a new state, taking into account natural changes and the transition from one state to a more perfect. The strategic goals of economic development in the national macroeconomic environment were defined as the unity of interconnected and interdependent components. The main factors and conditions that determine the sustainable development of the country were listed. The concept of "Sustainability" was defined. Types of resilience were considered. The basic conditions for sustainable economic development were provided. These conditions are the systematization, selection and complexity of the process of resource provision of the economic environment of the national economy. A model for ensuring the sustainable development of the socio-economic system was proposed. The main segment components that determine the structure and state of macroeconomic processes from the standpoint of sustainable development of the socio-economic system were identified. The structure of the socio-economic system was considered as a complex, multifaceted, multicomponent and multilevel economic system. The main conditions for the development of the socio-economic system were listed. These conditions are monitoring and measuring the results of activities in the system. The model of the influence of the structural and functional environment on the effectiveness of the socio-economic system was illustrated. The concept of "Efficiency" was defined as a relative value that characterizes the ratio of the results obtained with the goals of the socio-economic system or the result with the cost of obtaining it. The basic principles and components that allow the modern economy to function were listed. The concept of "Adaptability" as a process of permanent purposeful structural and functional adaptation of the system of strategic economic development goals to certain living conditions was analyzed. Conclusions were made on the strategic goals of economic development of the socio-economic system.

Food security problems for developing countries in the conditions of COVID-19: case of Georgia

Introduction. Food security has not been a concern of any particular state and is a global problem for already a long time. It, as an economic category in the scientific literature, is considered from the position of ensuring the security of the global world problem, regions, individual countries, population groups and individual people. It is a multifaceted issue, closely linked to other security issues, and has a great impact on the national safety situation, which in turn is an economic, social and political category. COVID-19 has created a large-scale economic crisis. The pandemic has had a major impact on food security and the field of nutrition. The crisis has affected food systems and threatened public access to food, raising the issue of food self-sufficiency in countries.Aim and tasks. In order to assess food security, the paper examines the self-sufficiency coefficients of basic agro-food products in Georgia under the conditions of the World Pandemic, and evaluates its components: local production, import, export. In addition, local production trends have been analyzed, Results. Thus a study of the current state of the agro-food sector shows that the problem of providing the population with food is becoming more acute. The pace of development of the agro-food sector lags significantly behind the growth rates of other sectors of the economy. The current economic growth has not yet created the conditions for sustainable economic development: The level of supply of essential agro-food products is quite low, the number of jobs has not increased substantially, the level of income is low, poverty rates are still high and the food deficit is filled mainly with imported products.Conclusions. This study showed that the issue of the food security is still unresolved for Georgia. Despite the state support activities, the agro-food sector still needs assistance. We have developed recommendations, the consideration of which will significantly contribute to food supply of the markets and food supply to the population. Keywords: agro-food products, local production, food independence, self-sufficiency coefficients.

The role and purpose of the state in the currents of neoliberalism

The article reveals the theses of neoliberalism - a complex philosophical and scientific course, as well as social practices concerning a new understanding of the role and purpose of the state in the twentieth century. The results of the study are based on an analysis of the works of representatives of German and American neoliberalism. The strong role of the state in the economic sphere, as well as the humanitarian, social and security purpose of the state are described. Neoliberalism was formed in the fields of economics, political science, jurisprudence, international law, philosophy as scientific fields of knowledge and embodied in the economic, social and cultural policy of Western democracies, including the reflection of its doctrinal provisions in the constitutions of European states. Therefore, neoliberalism can be defined as a set of doctrinal currents and social practices, characterized by economic, political, legal and ideological components. Representatives of neoliberalism tried to redefine the role, significance and tasks of the state according to the interwar and postwar economic and political conditions. At the same time, their ideas concerned individual rights and freedoms, the legal social order, as well as the worldview and methodological foundations on which all currents of neoliberalism were based. In August 1938, a conference of neoliberal economists, known as the Lippmann Colloquium, was held in Paris, at which a new concept of the state was essentially formulated. It consisted of the following provisions. First, the state must determine the system of rules within which economic activity is formed, and guarantee their implementation. Secondly, it was recognized at the conference that the market mechanism does not provide automatic self-regulation and balance, and therefore requires some government intervention.The third provision of the conference established that the state had to take only those measures that would ensure the support of free competition. Fourth, the restriction of monopolies was recognized. This idea underlies at the basis of antitrust laws in USA. The fifth point of neoliberalism was the limited intervention of the state in economic relations. It was allowed only temporarily and in cases when the flexibility of supply and demand was violated and the balance on the basis of the price mechanism was lost. The state should not set the price on the market, but should influence the magnitude of supply or demand, thus equalizing prices and preventing sharp fluctuations. As a result, the state in neoliberalism has a strong influence on the economic system by eliminating market monopolies, ensuring free competition, regulating excess supply and demand. Also, one of the leading roles of the state is to carry out activities that do not provide profit in the near future (humanitarian, scientific, medical, environmental spheres). Having created conditions for sustainable economic development, the state has to embody social and security tasks. Keywords: neoliberalism, state, role, order, intervention, economy, law, peace, security, humanitarian and social tasks.

Environmental Sector of Business Economy: Theoretical Approaches to Assessing the Proportionality of Growth

The presented study examines the environmental sector of the business economy in the context of proportionality of economic growth. Identification of this sector calls attention to persistent disparities associated with the practical implementation of sustainable development. It is important to further develop methods for assessing the ecosystem effects of development due to the lack of environmental adaptation of the results of economic growth. Approaches to the examination of proportional growth at different levels allow us to confirm these challenges. Disparities are identified at all levels of the economic system: nano-economic, micro-economic, meso-economic, macro-economic, and mega-economic. Fundamental approaches to examination involve using the multi-factor production function, including the environmental factor of economic development. Implementation of a mechanism for managing the development of the environmental sector of the business economy involves the development of financial and non-financial instruments. Aim . The study aims to determine the mechanism of occurrence of disparities associated with the development of the environmental sector of business and to propose approaches to assessing its implementation and specific instruments that could help solve the problem of proportional development within the framework of the sustainable development concept. Tasks . To achieve the set aim, the authors analyze the development of the environmental sector of the business economy and define the features of environmental management; present financial and non-financial instruments for the management and support of environmental business and identify problems and opportunities of their successful application at all levels of the economy to improve the rate and quality of economic growth in Russia. Methods . This study uses analysis and synthesis in comparative statics and in the dynamic aspect, with allowance for historical, systems, and environmental approaches and production function modeling. Results . The authors prove that economic growth in the context of economic digitalization should be considered within the framework of carbon neutrality or environmental adaptation. Non-financial instruments are not enough for managing the development of environmental entrepreneurship. Achieving the proportionality of development would lead to the growth of environmental entrepreneurship, ensuring an inflow of investment that would multiply the country's gross domestic product (GDP); innovations related to digitalization would create conditions for sustainable economic development. Conclusions . The conducted study substantiates the need to use financial and non-financial instruments for managing the development of environmental entrepreneurship in Russia in order to eliminate the constantly emerging and existing disparities in economic growth. The main exogenous and endogenous parameters of the production function are identified with allowance for the environmental multiplier.

Digital Business Environment: Prospects and Challenges for the Development of Economic Systems

The presented study examines the digital transformation of society in the current context. It is established that the digital business environment affects all economic sectors, the character of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of goods, changes the structure of social production and employment. It radically transforms the way business structures adapt to the challenges of the modern age and the prospects of their development and competitiveness. The tools and mechanisms for the functioning of the digital environment should be determined based on the demand of entrepreneurs for digital resources. With the explosive growth of digital technology and the mass spread of the Internet, traditional management systems are being used less. This makes it obvious that business activities should be digitalized through the implementation of information systems along with changes in management. The government should facilitate investment in the development of the information business and support innovative enterprises oriented towards international markets. This would help the Russian Federation to remain competitive at the onset of the sixth wave of innovation. Aim . The study aims to show the genesis and role of state regulation in the development of the infrastructure-based digital business environment, to analyze the major areas of the digital environment, and to propose modern tools that should exist in the system of business support during the sixth wave of innovation. Tasks . The authors analyze the development of the digital environment in Russia and worldwide with allowance for changes in management; examine the tools and mechanism for the digital adaptation of the business; identify problems and opportunities for the successful implementation of digital technologies to improve business competitiveness in Russia. Methods . This study uses comparative, static, and dynamic analysis and systematization of scientific literature in conjunction with historical development, elements of a systems approach, and modeling of socio-economic development processes. Results . The authors prove that implementation of projects in the field of information business will increase the investment attractiveness of both national and regional socio-economic systems, leading to a growth in innovative entrepreneurship and ensuring the inflow of investment in research and development, including in the field of digitalization. This, in turn, will create conditions for sustainable economic development. Conclusions . The necessity of implementing a project approach to the development of business digitalization in Russia in state regulation and infrastructure support for business activities is substantiated. The major directions of digital business support in Russia are identified.

ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემა - ეკონომიკური ზრდის უმნიშვნელოვანესი ფაქტორი

ლამარა ქოქიაური
 ეკონომიკურ მეცნიერებათა დოქტორი, პროფესორი,
 საქართველოს ეკონომიკურ მეცნიერებათა აკადემიის აკადემიკოსი,
 ეკონომიკური კვლევების ეროვნული ინსტიტუტის მთავარი
 მეცნიერ-თანამშრომელი
 საქართველო, ბათუმი
 E-mail: lqoqiauri@yahoo.com
 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8190-1016
 
 მოკლე აღწერა
 შრომაში შესწავლილია ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემის ძირი­თა­დი მიზანი, მისი როლი ეროვნული და რეგიონული ეკო­ნო­მი­კების ორგანიზაციების კონკურენტუნარიანობის ამაღლების საქ­მეში. აქვე განხილულია ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემის საკვანძო პა­რამეტრები და ლოკალური ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემების შექ­მ­ნის საბაზო პირობები.
 სტატიაში წარმოდგენილია დღეისათვის მეტად აქტ­უ­ა­ლუ­რი პრობლემა _ ინოვაციების შექმნისა და კომერციალიზაციის პრ­ოცესი, კვლევებზე დახარჯული რესურსების განაწილების, ტე­ქნოლოგიების განვითარებისა და კომერციალიზაციის თვ­ალ­სა­ზრისით.
 ოცდამეერთე საუკუნეში ეკონომიკის მდგრადი ინოვაციური გან­ვითარებისათვის პირობების შექმნა დაკავშირებულია ინ­ო­ვა­ც­ი­ური ეკოსისტემის ჩამოყალიბებასთან. იგი ახასიათებს რეგიონის ან ქვეყნის ეკონომიკის ინოვაციური განვითარების თანამედროვე მო­დელს და არის უფრო ადრინდელი კონცეფციის, კერძოდ, ეროვნული ინოვაციური სისტემის თეორიის აქტუალური ვერსია.
 ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემის ფუნქციონირების საფუძველია კა­პი­ტალისა და ეკონომიკური რესურსების, სამეურნეო სუბიექტებს შო­რის ურთიერთდამოკიდებულება, რომელთა მიზანია _ ტე­ქნ­ო­ლო­გიური და ინოვაციური განვითარება. ეკონომიკური რე­სუ­რ­სე­ბი მოცემულ შემთხვევაში თავის თავში მოიცავს როგორც მატ­ერ­ია­ლურ რესურსებს, ასევე ადამიანისეულ კაპიტალს. აქვე უნდა აღ­ვნიშნოთ, რომ ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემა თავისი არსით წა­რმო­ა­დ­გენს ორი განსხვავებული სისტემის ერთობლიობას _ ესენია: სა­მეც­ნიერო-კვლევითი და კომერციული. დღეისთვის აქტუალურია სა­მეცნიერო კვლევების და დამუშავებებზე გაწეული ი­ნ­ვე­ს­ტი­ცი­ე­ბ­ის საერთო მოცულობაში კომერციული სექტორის წილის გა­დი­დება.
 საკვანძო სიტყვები: ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემა, ბიოლოგიური ეკოსისტემა, ფუნდამენტური კვლევები, კომერციალიზაციის პროცესი, სახელმწიფო ინვესტიციები, ვენჩურული კაპიტალი, ინოვაციური ეკოსისტემის მოდელი.

Renewable Energy Technologies for Economic Development

Indonesian villages are facing dangerous condition. Every year, young people are deserting the villages. To overcome this problem, Tangsi Jaya hamlet, West Java, has been provided with 18 kW micro-hydro to supply electricity both to the community and to Small Processing Center for ground coffee production. Results of cash flow analysis for ground coffee in Tangsi Jaya hamlet, with total investment of IDR 110 750 000 and discount rate of 18 % for 5 yr. Banyumeneng I hamlet, Yogyakarta with an investment cost IDR 95 000 000 and production cost of IDR 34 195 000 yr–1 and the interest rate of 14 % yr–1, the payback period was estimated to be 3 yr with ROI of 40 %. PEST analysics indicate that the higher electricity tariff and interest rate while the higher the value of technology and number of people involve with the SPC will result in the bigger value of ROI. Renewable energy technology could be used for value added activities in rural areas, create small industries, provide job opportunities to the local people and create conditions for sustainable economic development. However, vigilance is needed because small industries can also cause pollution because they produce waste

Methodological bases of estimating the efficiency of organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy in agriculture

Ukrainian agriculture creates 12-14% of GDP. Ensuring the conditions for sustainable economic development implies the use of adequate mechanisms for regulating economic processes by the government. In the process of formation and implementation of the organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy, a system of indicators plays an important role in assessing the impact of such policy on the participants, monitoring and, in case of the deviation from planned results, adjusting regulatory measures. This research analyzes and systematizes the indicators that determine the organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy effectiveness in agriculture. The systematization of indicators to evaluate the organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy effectiveness in agriculture has allowed substantiating the methodological principles of its integrated assessment. Application of the proposed methodological approach to assessing the organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy effectiveness in agriculture in Ukraine was performed during 2010, 2016-2017 period. It revealed slow progress in the organizational and economic mechanism of regulatory policy efficiency during the investigated period. This result is primarily attributed to the lack of purposeful, systematic change management, the lack of mid-term planning, the strictness of most programs, imperfect financial instruments of the organizational and economic mechanism, and procedures for application.

STABILIZATION OF FINANCIAL RELATIONS AS THE BASIS FOR NATIONAL ECONOMIC SECURITY

The stability of financial relations is one of the conditions for sustainable economic development and creation of conditions for the growth of material production, non-production sphere development and increase of employment, improving social and economic conditions of the population. The need to develop practical recommendations for improving the efficiency of existing financial relations in Ukraine and their coordination with the processes that occur in the real sector of the economy determine the relevance of the study.Purpose of the article is determining the basic principles and refinement of indicators to measure the stability of financial relations and, on this basis, assessment of the stability of financial relations in Ukraine.The study is focused on the formation of practical recommendations to improve the effectiveness of existing financial relations in Ukraine, and their coordination with the processes that occur in the real sector of the economy. It has been proved that the stabilization of financial relations is formulated as the process of achieving the state of balance and equilibrium in financial resources market at high (enough) level of demand and supply. Methodological, theoretical, normative and generalized approaches to determining the stability of financial relations have been outlined. Evaluation of factors influencing the stability of financial relations has been made at the stage of actual GDP formation (as the basis of financial relations), the formation of primary incomes and formation of gross disposable income of institutional sectors relative to GDP. Potential risks of destabilizing financial relations in Ukraine have been identified. System parameters of early warning of instability based on the definition of key macro shocks to the stability of financial relations has been outlined.One of the biggest factors promoting economic development is the stabilization of financial relations — a set of parameters, factors and measures to achieve an optimal equilibrium in financial resources. Further research will study ways to stabilize financial relations in Ukraine.

ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ФІНАНСОВОЇ СПРОМОЖНОСТІ ОБ’ЄДНАНИХ ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНИХ ГРОМАД В УКРАЇНІ

In the process of decentralization reform, the issue of ensuring sustainable development at the local territorial level is very relevant and important from the point of view of stabilizing the social and economic situation in the regions of the country. Fiscal and budgetary decentralization has become the basis for a significant increase in the financial resources of the budgets of the joint territorial communities (OTH), but along with additional financial resources, local governments have gained great powers in maintaining budgetary institutions and providing social services to the population of their community. Therefore, here, it is worthwhile to focus attention on those key problems that arose as a result of these transformational changes in local self-government and the formation of OTH own and attracted funds. The first among the key problems is the loss of a significant part of tax revenues to the OTH budgets. In particular, the income from personal income tax, land fees, single tax and real estate tax is different from the land plot. The reasons for these losses are: low level of financial control by local governments of economic entities, issues of accounting for legal workers and real trade turnover, understatement of rates of payment for land, and other reasons. The second problem, as noted above, is the low activity of OTH self-management bodies in developing real investment projects in order to attract additional funds from state and non-state funds. The next problem can be unequivocally defined as the limited tools for monitoring the use of budgetary funds, as well as total corruption and bureaucracy at the local level. In order to solve these problems and ensure financial solvency of the budgets of the joint territorial communities at the state and local level, a number of activities are already taking place. To increase the level of efficiency and transparency in the use of OTH funds, in Ukraine, with the support of the Netherlands Embassy (MATRA program), the project "Financial transparency of the united communities" has been launched. This project is aimed at increasing the economic capacity of the united communities, which will permit to more effectively solve issues of local development, increase the competitiveness of territorial communities, fight corruption at the local level, and ensure the welfare of the local population. Within the framework of this project, in 2017, at the regional and district levels, the training of representatives of local self-government bodies are held with the aim to increase the financial capacity of territorial communities, to boost the financial literacy of representatives of territorial communities, in particular in attracting financial resources and their effective use for local development needs. These measures will help to increase the activity of all interested members of the public to influence, control the processes of formation and use of financial resources; citizens will be more actively involved in the processes of local government. As a consequence, all these measures will ensure the creation of conditions for sustainable economic development of the regions of Ukraine and the financial soundness of their budgets.

Społeczna percepcja inwestycji komunalnych współfinansowanych z funduszy strukturalnych

The integration with the European Union as one of the most important events in recent Polish history has had a significant impact on the functioning of local government units. The possibility of obtaining structural funds significantly changed the activities of municipalities in both the current operations and carrying out an investment. The aim of the article is to present the opinion of the representatives of local communities on the perception of the use and effects of the use of structural funds to local government units. The empirical material for analysis were the results of the surveys carried out in 24 municipalities of the Lubelskie, Malopolskie, Podkarpackie, Śląskie and Świetokrzyskie Regions. Respondents perceived the various benefits of Polish accession to the EU, and among the most important mentioned increasing the availability of funds for modernization and development of social and technical infrastructure facilities. To a lesser extent, they were valued aspects such as the increase in economic activity of citizens and equalization of disparities between regions. According to respondents opinions, completed investments contributed to a greater extent to the improvement of quality of life than to create the conditions for sustainable economic development. Assessment of extent of the impact of EU funds were divided, however they prevailed dealing improve the standard of living as the main effect of the investment. It turned out that such investments were realized in the first place, as those that best reflect the preferences of local communities. Only municipalities that met their immediate needs and raised further funds, allocate them to projects for local development.

THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF HAVING AN OPEN AND FREE BASIS SATELLITE DATA SHARING PLATFORM IN TURKEY: GEZGİN

Abstract. Turkey is a county that experiences rapid socioeconomic development, which, in turn, leads to high urbanization rates due to migration of people from rural to urban areas, many large-scale development projects (e.g. highways, dams, housing and infrastructure), and environmental problems that adversely affect agriculture, such as soil erosion and deforestation. Furthermore, Turkey lies in a region prone to natural disasters, especially earthquakes, landslides, flooding and forest fires. Successfully overcoming these challenges requires continuous monitoring to enable rapid response as well as the development of effective socioeconomic policies. In this regard, space-based earth observation (EO) systems play a critical role in the rapid acquisiton and extraction of crucial information. The first launch of the first Turkish-designed satellite, RASAT, in 2011 led to the wide-spread exploitation of space-based resources by Turkish institutions through the dissemination of EO data on an open and free basis via the GEZGIN internet portal (http://www.gezgin.gov.tr). The push for data sharing was further instigated by the nationally funded project GEOPORTAL (“Satellite Image Processing and Geoportal Development Project”) and European Union FP7 project EOPOWER (“Earth Observation for Economic Empowerment”), which strove to create conditions for sustainable economic development through the increased use of Earth observation products and services for environmental applications. In this work, the technical challenges involving processing and preparing raw satellite data for dissemination as well as software design of the GEZGIN Portal will be presented.

THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF HAVING AN OPEN AND FREE BASIS SATELLITE DATA SHARING PLATFORM IN TURKEY: GEZGİN

Turkey is a county that experiences rapid socioeconomic development, which, in turn, leads to high urbanization rates due to migration of people from rural to urban areas, many large-scale development projects (e.g. highways, dams, housing and infrastructure), and environmental problems that adversely affect agriculture, such as soil erosion and deforestation. Furthermore, Turkey lies in a region prone to natural disasters, especially earthquakes, landslides, flooding and forest fires. Successfully overcoming these challenges requires continuous monitoring to enable rapid response as well as the development of effective socioeconomic policies. In this regard, space-based earth observation (EO) systems play a critical role in the rapid acquisiton and extraction of crucial information. The first launch of the first Turkish-designed satellite, RASAT, in 2011 led to the wide-spread exploitation of space-based resources by Turkish institutions through the dissemination of EO data on an open and free basis via the GEZGIN internet portal (http://www.gezgin.gov.tr). The push for data sharing was further instigated by the nationally funded project GEOPORTAL (“Satellite Image Processing and Geoportal Development Project”) and European Union FP7 project EOPOWER (“Earth Observation for Economic Empowerment”), which strove to create conditions for sustainable economic development through the increased use of Earth observation products and services for environmental applications. In this work, the technical challenges involving processing and preparing raw satellite data for dissemination as well as software design of the GEZGIN Portal will be presented.

Europe 2020 Strategy and Structural Diversity Between Old and New Member States. Application of zero unitarization method for dynamic analysis in the years 2004-2013

ABSTRACT. In the year 2015 the European Union has reached the halfway of implementation of 2020 strategy, which is aimed at forming the conditions for sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. In this context the aim of the paper is analyze the level of fulfillment its aims with special concentration on diversity between Member States that joined European Union in 2004 and 2007 (EU-10) and Old European Union Members (EU-15). The empirical part of the paper is based on the taxonomic research with application of zero-unitarization method. In order make the dynamic analysis for the years 2004-2013 the constant reference point for the whole period was used. The evaluation was based on the Eurostat 2020 indicators. The analysis showed significant diversity between and Old Member States. However, in the years 2004-2013 EU-10 had made an important progress in the implementation of 2020 strategy.Keywords: 2020 strategy, multivariate analysis, zero-unitarization method.JEL Classification : C00, E61, 052(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)IntroductionIn the year 2015 the European Union has reached the halfway of implementation of 2020 strategy. The plan constitutes the second in this century ten-year strategy, which is aimed at building the conditions for sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. As the foundation for the 2020 strategy three mutually reinforcing priorities were formed: a) Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation; b) Sustainable growth: promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. c) inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial (European Commission 2010, p. 3).Europe 2020 document is a continuation of the Lisbon Strategy announced at the beginning of this century, which was aimed at improving conditions for sustainable economic development described with the formula to become the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world; based on knowledge, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion (see Royuela-Mora et al., 2005, pp. 54-58; Lenain, 2005, pp. 9-31). The Lisbon Strategy was adopted during the significant economic changes associated with development of the global knowledge-based economy, which was accompanied by very high rate of economic growth achieved by the United States (see Balcerzak, 2009, pp. 3-22). It was an ambition of political and economic elites of the European Union create the conditions, which would allow catch up of the United States in terms of the development of conditions for using the potential of knowledgebased economy. Unfortunately, already in the halfway of the Lisbon strategy, it was clear that the achievement of its objectives is impossible (Mogensen, 2005, pp. 46-49). In this time many representatives of European political elites were in favor of the view that the failure of Lisbon strategy implementation should be mainly treated as a consequence of European Union enlargement and the structural diversity between New and Old Europe (see Wanilin, 2006). In this context the main aim of the paper is analyze the fulfillment of the goals of 2020 strategy from the perspective of the years 2004-2013 with special consideration the progress obtained by ten countries that joined EU in the years 2004 and 2007. In the analysis a special attention was given the results of the Visegrad Group as the biggest economies of the EU-10 in relation the achievements of the most important Eurozone economies. The first year of the analysis is the year of the biggest European Union enlargement, which can be considered as the most significant institutional change in Central and Eastern Europe. …

Energy demand modeling for Uzbekistan

The paper is devoted to energy demand forecasting in Uzbekistan. Studies show that in spite of the abundant reserves of hydrocarbons, low energy efficiency can have an adverse impact on energy security in Uzbekistan in the future. Oil and gas are the main primary energy source and they ensure energy security of Uzbekistan. Energy demand forecasting is essential in order to develop an effective energy policy. Such forecast can be useful to plan oil and gas production volumes, to identify priorities for the industrial modernization and to create favorable conditions for sustainable economic development in the future. Author proposes model based on translog function for developing medium-and long-term development programs in energy sector and the modernization and technological re-equipment of industry.

Public Accounts Committees in the Commonwealth: oversight, effectiveness, and governance

For the past 15 years the international community has assumed that by strengthening legislative capacity, legislatures are better equipped to oversee government activity and spending, to keep governments accountable, to secure good governance, prevent corruption, and create the conditions for sustainable economic development. The purpose of the present paper is to test this set of assumptions by focusing on one of the oversight tools that the international community regards as particularly important, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Structural and organisational features that affect the performance of PACs is analysed, the relationship between oversight activity and effectiveness is investigated, and it is assessed whether good governance is a function of oversight activity, of effectiveness or of both. The analyses reveal that while oversight activity does not always have a significant or directly positive impact on good governance, good governance is indeed a function of oversight effectiveness as the international community had long assumed.

The evolution of business – state interaction in Russia: From state capture to business capture?

This article discusses two basic strategies of Russian companies—isolation from, and close cooperation with the state. The author analyses several ways in which companies realise these strategies, drawing analogies with the ‘exit’ and ‘voice’ strategies suggested by A. Hirschman. It is shown that under the conditions of a weak state these strategies lead either to an expansion of the shadow economy or to ‘state capture’. Both the privatisation of the state and the lack of its privatisation result in budget crises as well as drastic social and political shocks, leading to calls for a ‘strong hand’ in the business community itself. However, as there is little political competition and the mechanisms of democratic control are weak, state consolidation takes place as a bureaucratic consolidation accompanied by new opportunities for informal ‘business capture’ by the authorities. Nevertheless, the high degree of openness of the economy and the remaining heterogeneity of political actors provide business with a wide range of possible strategies of interaction with the state. This article explores how these strategies are becoming more formal and public compared to the 1990s. Strategies of isolation from the state now take place as legal strategies of internationalisation. Cooperation strategies, on the other hand, currently seem to be more efficient when switching from the traditional lobbying of private interests to more rational and collective actions aimed at providing the necessary conditions for sustainable economic development.