Regional Specificity Research Articles

Regional aspects of migration and urbanization in the USSR/Russia in the 20th–21st centuries (using the example of the Penza region)

Based on the analysis of statistical data and office documentation, the processes of mechanical movement of the population of the Penza region in the 1930s-2020s are studied. The subject of the study is to determine the factors, regional specifics and the results of migration activity. The methodological basis of the study is the theory of cyclicality of demographic processes. General scientific methods, methods of descriptive statistics and statistical inference are used. The incentives for migration movement have been identified, among which the key ones are reforms of administrative-territorial division; implementation of programs for mobilization and redistribution of labor resources; coercion as a way to counteract labor absenteeism; processes of urbanization, industrialization, “rejuvenation” of the population (in the context of the agricultural and demographic transitions); evolution of living standards. The regional feature lies in the agrarian nature of the region’s economy and, as a result, in the strengthening of the values of traditional society, which explains the shift in the amplitude of fluctuations and the scale, as well as the change in the directions migration. The chronological and structural limits of interregional and external migration are determined.

Выявление причин оттока населения из успешного дальневосточного арктического региона (1990–2020 гг.)

The problem of the Far Eastern macroregion after the transition to a market economy is the population outflow. Since 1990, the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the easternmost Arctic region of Russia, has lost the largest share of the population (70 %). The external success of the okrug’s socio-economic development, as evidenced by the primary industry growth and its leading places among the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in a number of key per capita indicators, does not contribute to the influx of labour resources, since this region is one of the smallest in Russia. The 30-year dynamics of socio-economic processes in Chukotka were examined to clarify the reasons for this paradox. To this end, main quantitative and qualitative indicators of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug in the economic and social sphere were compared in the context of a planned economy (1990), when the region was attractive for living, and market one (2020), characterised by a massive population outflow. To assess living standards, the authors’ methodology was used to compare the purchasing power of income in different economic conditions. Living standards significantly decreased: in a planned economy, they exceeded the national average by 3 times, while in market conditions, there is only a slight excess (22 %). The population outflow from the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug resulted from a combination of two factors: a change in the economic paradigm and specificity of the Arctic region. Accordingly, the population of the northern and Arctic regions can be maintained only by providing a better living standard relative to other constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The findings can be used to improve the socio-economic policy of the Russian North and Arctic.

Согласование региональных инновационных процессов с приоритетом обеспечения технико-технологической конкурентоспособности РФ

Although Russia has approximately 200 tools to support science and innovation, the observed innovative activity of Russian organisations of 12 % is 4-6 times lower than that of most technologically developed countries. Under international sanctions, it is necessary to enhance the innovative component of the country’s technological competitiveness. The study hypothesises that improvement of innovation processes management in Russian regions requires a transition to a holistic innovation policy aimed at harmonising regional science, technology and production to ensure technological sovereignty. The article refines the methodology and mechanisms of the Russian innovation policy. The author’s approach to the implementation of the mission-oriented innovation policy considering the specificity of Russian regions is described. The use of a layered innovation strategy is substantiated. Innovative activity should first be stimulated in regions with the highest development of science and technology industries; then, other regions should be gradually involved in innovation processes. The following indicators are considered while selecting regions: the number of R&D employees, shipping volume of high – and medium-tech enterprises, number of university students, fiscal capacity. Data of the Federal State Statistics Service are analysed. The rank method is used for a preliminary selection of 10 regions most suitable for implementing the developed approach (Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Republic of Tatarstan, Nizhny Novgorod, Sverdlovsk oblasts, etc.). The study presents innovation missions for these regions aimed to overcome the technological gap and reduce import dependence (innovative import substitution, circular economy, etc.). The findings can be used to improve innovation policy at the federal and regional levels. Future studies should focus on establishing theoretical and methodological foundations of a unified scientific and technological space in Russia.

ІСТОРІЯ ТА ІСТОРИК В КОНТЕКСТІ СУЧАСНИХ СТРУКТУР ІНТЕРНАЦІОНАЛІЗАЦІЇ ЦИФРОВИХ РЕСУРСІВ

This article examines the role and advantages of a professional historian in the context of tasks related to the internationalization of information technology (IT) resources. Building on the premise that globalization processes require a comprehensive approach to adapting IT products to the cultural and social specificities of various countries and regions, the author argues that historical knowledge can serve as a reliable foundation for developing internationalization strategies. Particular attention is given to historians’ analytical abilities, their deep understanding of cultural and historical contexts, language skills, and the capacity for ethical and politically correct reviewing, which are critically important for successful localization and cultural adaptation of IT resources. The analysis explores how historical knowledge and methodological approaches can be integrated into the development and implementation processes of IT resources, as well as into procedures for assessing their effectiveness in the international market. The potential of historical science in predicting future societal trends and adapting technological innovations to these trends is addressed. The importance of an interdisciplinary approach in the modern globalized world is emphasized, where historical science not only serves as a means of understanding the past but also as a tool for effective adaptation and internationalization of electronic resources. The author argues that professional historians can play a key role in developing global strategies for the IT sector, contributing to the creation of inclusive, culturally adapted technological solutions that take into account the historical experience and cultural peculiarities of different peoples. The discussion includes how historical knowledge helps identify potential risks and opportunities associated with entering new markets, and how this knowledge can facilitate the development of more adapted and acceptable strategies for intercultural communication and interaction.

Измерение и оценка человеческого капитала для рынка труда региона

Despite the rapidly growing bibliography and a relative scientific consensus, the measurement of human capital at different levels, degrees of detail, socio-economic traditions remains a topical issue due to the use of various conceptualisation, measurement and interpretation techniques. However, the results of obtaining and measuring human capital so far have fallen short of expectations for a number of reasons, some of which are addressed in this article. Considering the specificity and diversity of Russian regions, assessment of their human capital gained importance in Russian scientific discourse in both quantitative and qualitative research. The present study aims to examine the influence of significant factors, including those determining regional specificity, on the self-assessment of human capital for the labour market in different segments of the economically active population. To obtain data, a new (for Russian scientific discourse) method of asking a group of questions and measuring total human capital for the labour market was applied. The study used the authors’ database and identified groups of factors and their effect on the self-assessment of human capital in accordance with well-known theoretical propositions. As a result, the article explained the influence of both external (satisfaction with living in a region and trust in local authorities) and traditional factors on the quality of human capital for some categories of the working population on the example of a specific Russian region.

Профиль саморегуляции и социальной активности в портрете учащейся российской молодежи

Background. The relevance of studying the social activity of young people in the context of self-regulation is determined by the vulnerability of young people in difficult conditions of a transforming society subject to uncertainty. In social activity, young people socialize, manifest themselves, and therefore it is necessary to understand its factors, motives for inclusion in one or another of its forms, obstacles to its implementation, as well as risks and threats to the safety and well-being. Objectives. The aim is to establish the role of self-regulation in the involvement of young people in social activity, considering regional and gender specifics. Study Participants. This study involved 1492 respondents (Mage = 19.2; 1013 women), students of various majors from Russian regions. Methods. The research had a survey design, the questionnaires and scales were used in this work for collecting data: V.I. Morosanova's “Style of self-regulation of behavior”, Eysenck's three-factor model, FIRO-B, British scale of well-being, Scale of Russian parties and socio-political organizations attractiveness, Assessment of social contacts intensity and participation in events, and informal associations, a socio-demographic survey. Methods of descriptive statistics, cluster (k-means method) and comparative (t-Student and H-Kraskel-Wallis criterion) analyses were used for data processing. Results. It is established that the leading regulatory processes and properties in the profile of self-regulation of young people are persistence, programming of actions, and flexibility. Self-regulation has a greater impact on such forms of social activity of young people as leisure activities, participation in clubs, spontaneous events as the organizer of these forms with a predominant value for girls rather than for boys. Conclusions. The study showed the typical features of the self-regulation profile of young people. This profile is mostly conditioned by the age specifics of this social group. The limited influence of the processes and properties of self-regulation on the forms of social activity, especially in relation to young men, suggests the need to consider other factors of social activity in a complex.

CEO’s tendency to narcissism and optimism: The impact on a company’s debt burden before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Goal: to assess the impact of the level of the CEO’s optimism and narcissism on the capital structure of companies in the developed and emerging markets before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Metodology: the study is based on 100 Western companies from the “Forbes Global 2000” list and 50 leading Russian companies in terms of revenue and capitalization. The assessment of narcissism and optimism was carried out by application of text analysis based on the bag of words and the pronoun counting method. Using the Anglin dictionary, four manifestations of narcissism were assessed — superiority (manifestation of superiority), vanity (vanity), exhibitionism (narcissism), self-sufficiency (arrogance). The hypotheses about the relationship between a CEO’s personality characteristics (narcissism and optimism) and the company’s capital structure were tested by using panel regression with fixed effects. Findings: the study revealed that the influence of the behavioral characteristics of a CEO increased during the crisis period (pandemic), which may indicate the tendency of managers to act less rationally and more impulsively; the result was confirmed for both domestic and foreign managers. The interplay between narcissism and optimism has a similar trend with the level of debt burden in Russian and international companies, i.e. for decision-making, the personal characteristics of management are more important than regional business specifics. Originality and contribution of the authors: the study contributes to the literature on behavioral finance by assessing the impact of a CEO’s narcissism and optimism in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding the existing work towards the analysis of crisis situations as well as behavioral finance in different economic and sociocultural areas. The paper proposes text analysis to assess personal characteristics of CEOs.

Neuroinflammation in comorbid depression in Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study using post-mortem brain tissue

Comorbid depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with poorer prognosis than either condition alone. Neuroinflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of both depression and AD, but much of the existing research has been based on peripheral blood immune markers. Relatively little is known about the neuroinflammatory environment when these conditions occur simultaneously and using immune measures directly in the brain tissue. This pilot study aimed to examine brain inflammatory marker changes in AD cases comparing those with and without comorbid depression.Post-mortem brain tissue from AD cases with depression (n = 23) and AD cases with no history of psychiatric illness (n = 25) were analyzed for a range of inflammatory markers, including markers of microglial function (Iba1, P2RY12, CD64 and CD68 measured by immunohistochemistry); endothelial inflammatory markers (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 measured by ELISA); and cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, and TNF-α measured using Mesoscale Discovery Multiplex Assays).Brains of AD cases with comorbid depression, compared with AD alone, had increased IL-4 in the superior frontal gyrus and increased TNFα & IL-12p70 in the insula. Levels of all other inflammatory markers including markers of microglial function and endothelial inflammation were similar between the two groups.We found no consistent changes in cytokines between the two brain regions in individuals with comorbid depression in AD. Further work in larger cohorts is needed to understand brain region specificity of immune marker alterations and the relationship of these changes with pre-mortem clinical outcomes.

Project methods for improving the main parameters of the implementation of projects and programs of socio-demographic development in the regions of the Central Chernozem Economic Region

The article examines the conditions and specifics of the implementation of projects and programs of demographic development in modern conditions. It is noted that Russia is currently facing demographic risks unprecedented in the history of the state, the main of which are the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a special military operation in its economic and political terms. Today, there is an objective need to revise the existing strategic directions, as well as tools for implementing demographic policy. The main parameters of the implementation of projects and programs of socio-demographic development need to be adjusted, including taking into account regional specifics. This is especially true of the border regions, such as the Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions, which, during a special military operation in Ukraine, faced very serious challenges and threats that had a significant impact on the socio-economic, demographic and socio-cultural living conditions of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The article formulates a number of practical recommendations addressed to authorities of various levels, the business community and public structures, etc., focused on the application of the project approach and aimed at improving the main parameters of the implementation of projects and programs of socio-demographic development in the regions of the Central Chernozem Economic Region.

Конструктив преференциальных налоговых режимов как детерминанта привлечения инвестиций в инновационное развитие России

The subject of the study is preferential tax regimes as a factor in fulfilling the task of attracting investments in the innovative development of Russia. The purpose of the work is to justify its deepening and expansion in conditions of macroeconomic instability, external challenges and sanctions pressure and changes in tax policy directions, forms and methods of implementation, accompanied by a significant correction of such a method of attracting investments and solving problems of achieving technological sovereignty as the use of mechanisms and instruments of a preferential nature. The object of the study is fiscal instruments aimed at stimulating investment in industrial development through the use of effective innovations related to the creation and functioning of various preferential tax regimes. The research methodology is based on the theory of economic development, the place and role of tax instruments in achieving the technological sovereignty of the country. At the same time, tax preferences are considered as a broader concept than tax benefits. It is concluded that, despite the indirect impact of tax instruments, their combination and complexity of application with other economic measures of influence on the business process make it possible to achieve the tasks set. At the same time, attention is drawn to the fragmentation of decisions taken, which leads to the impossibility of effective application of such organizational forms of preferences as special economic zones/special economic zones (SEZ), regional investment projects (RIPS), special investment contracts (SPIC), agreements on the protection and promotion of investments. The targeted nature of the preferences provided as part of the recognition of the multilevel structuring of tax regulation is designed to take into account regional specifics and the needs of the development of key industries in order for the country to achieve technological sovereignty.

РАЗВИТИЕ СИСТЕМЫ ДОЛГОВРЕМЕННОГО УХОДА: ДЕМОГРАФИЧЕСКИЕ ФАКТОРЫ И СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДПОСЫЛКИ

The subject of the study is the long-term care system in terms of providing healthcare and social security services for pensioners and disabled people. The purpose of the paper is to analyze and assess the demographic and socio-economic factors that influence the formation and development of the long-term care system in Russia. The relevance of the study stems from the rising proportion of the population above working age and specific aspects of their socio-economic status. The scientific novelty lies in the new approaches to building and advancing the long-term care system, emphasizing the need for it to be based on regional and territorial disparities in the provision of social and medical assistance to pensioners and disabled individuals, as well as the demographic characteristics of regional development. The study utilized factor analysis, generalization, grouping, comparison, and extrapolation, along with other methods, to identify the potential need for long-term care. This considered demographic factors and aimed to justify the introduction of long-term care systems with state support. The analysis also focused on socioeconomic factors and emphasized the aspects of formation and development of long-term care, while taking into account the territorial and regional specifics of Russia. The study aimed to provide scientific and practical results. The authors conclude that it is necessary to consider the existing features of territorial and regional development that do not provide equal access to health and social care services and the socio-economic situation of target categories of citizens when forming and developing a comprehensive long-term care system in Russia.

Regional Specifics of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship Digitaliza-tion: Factors, Barriers, Ways to Overcome Them

Regional Specifics of Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship Digitaliza-tion: Factors, Barriers, Ways to Overcome Them

Analysis of climate risks impact on railway infrastructure and adaptation measures system development

Analysis of the impact of climate risks on railway infrastructure and development of a system of measures to adapt transport infrastructure to climate change. The object of the study is Russian transport infrastructure, analyzed using the method of identifying the peculiarities of the functioning of the transport infrastructure, taking into account regional specifics. An analysis of climate risk factors, the effects of climate risk factors, as well as the impact on railway infrastructure was carried out with the aim of integrated management of natural hazards and the development of adaptation measures to climate change. It is shown that improving measures and strategies for adapting railway transport to a changing climate may include the following systems: a system for preventing accidents and incidents; monitoring system for environmental parameters and infrastructure facilities; measures to protect railway transport facilities; introducing changes to production standards; relocation of infrastructure facilities when it is impossible to operate them in a given territory.

Experimental Trajectories of Convergence and Divergence Processes of Russian Regions Population Incomes Inequality

The study is devoted to the problem of differentiation of incomes of the population of Russia's regions. The goal of the work is to develop a methodology for analyzing the processes of differentiation of incomes of the population in Russia's regions based on the theory of dynamic systems and machine learning, and its testing on recent analytical data. The research hypothesis lies in the assumption of the simultaneous coexistence of processes of convergence and divergence of processes of differentiation of incomes of the population of Russia's regions, depending on external and internal factors. These processes are the subject of the research. The information base is the Federal State Statistics Service's data on the values of the Gini index of 80 regions for the period from 1995 to 2018. To construct experimental trajectories, in addition to the Gini index, two independent dynamic variables were used - its first and second derivatives, which made it possible to construct 3 different spaces of states (from one-dimensional to three-dimensional). Using the k-means clustering method, the entire observed set of states was divided into 5 clusters, the number of which was previously determined by the “elbow method” test. As a result of the calculations, the predominance of convergent processes over divergent ones during the studied period was proven. It was found that the individual trajectories of certain regions in the space of state differ significantly: the trajectories of some regions can be localized within only one cluster, while some parts of the trajectories of others can belong to up to 4 clusters. The majority of the trajectories are located within 2-3 clusters. The theoretical significance of the results obtained lies in deepening the understanding of the regional specifics of the dynamic changes in the differentiation of income of the population of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The practical significance of the research results lies in the expansion of instrumental support for decision-making in the implementation of the state policy in the field of regulating the differentiation of income of the population at the regional level.

Relationships between peak alpha frequency, age, and autistic traits in young children with and without autism spectrum disorder.

Atypical peak alpha frequency (PAF) has been reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, the relationships between PAF, age, and autistic traits remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate and compare the resting-state PAF of young children with ASD and their typically developing (TD) peers using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Nineteen children with ASD and 24 TD children, aged 5-7 years, underwent MEG under resting-state conditions. The PAFs in ten brain regions were calculated, and the associations between these findings, age, and autistic traits, measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), were examined. There were no significant differences in PAF between the children with ASD and the TD children. However, a unique positive association between age and PAF in the cingulate region was observed in the ASD group, suggesting the potential importance of the cingulate regions as a neurophysiological mechanism underlying distinct developmental trajectory of ASD. Furthermore, a higher PAF in the right temporal region was associated with higher SRS scores in TD children, highlighting the potential role of alpha oscillations in social information processing. This study emphasizes the importance of regional specificity and developmental factors when investigating neurophysiological markers of ASD. The distinct age-related PAF patterns in the cingulate regions of children with ASD and the association between right temporal PAF and autistic traits in TD children provide novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of ASD. These findings pave the way for future research on the functional implications of these neurophysiological patterns and their potential as biomarkers of ASD across the lifespan.

Внутрирегиональная и межрегиональная миграция населения Сибири: сравнительный анализ Иркутской, Томской областей и Красноярского края

The article focuses on the analysis of intraregional migration processes in Tomsk and Irkutsk Oblasts and Krasnoyarsk Krai. The aim of the article is the observation of trends and consequences of the interregional and intraregional migration processes in three Siberian territories. The basis of this study is the migration statistic data in Irkutsk and Tomsk Oblasts and Krasnoyarsk Krai. The authors use data that were both published in open access and obtained on individual request from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). Migration statistics was analyzed by means of authors’ statistic calculations and visualization of these data by mapping the information. The migration situation in the Siberian regions is analyzed in the following steps: comparison of indicators and coefficients of migration growth/loss of interregional movements to identify the most and least intensive and productive migration connections of the regions; comparison of the coefficients of migration growth/loss of intraregional migrations to identify the main migration trends – donor-territories and recipient-territories within the regions; comparison of indicators and coefficients of migration intensity to identify the territories of the region with the most and least movable population. The data of intraregional migrations are the basis for the mapping of these processes. The comparison of data on interregional and intraregional migration in relation to the identification of centers of attraction and migration donors on a regional scale allowed identifying common patterns and regional specifics of these processes, as well as key migration trends and territories that are most actively involved in migration exchange. These approaches ensured the comparison of migration situation in three regions. The authors ascertain trends of sustainable population outflow from rural areas to large cities and concentration of intraregional migrants in cities of regional or district administration. Taking into account the movement of people to the central and southern regions of the country, described through the western shift concept, presumably, the intraregional migration trends that repeat directions of interregional migration flows can create extra conditions for negative migration processes in these regions. The results of the study allowed formulating a hypothesis about the correlation of the role of interregional and intraregional migration for the social and demographic development of Tomsk and Irkutsk Oblasts and Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Shaping the bioeconomy: Public and private sector perceptions across European regions

The bioeconomy is widely viewed as a viable solution to complex global challenges and diverse actors must collaborate to create sustainable and resilient economies. The public and private sector drive this transformation through strategies, policies, and regulation business choices and investments, innovation and market implementation respectively.The present study explores perceptions of the bioeconomy among public and private sector actors in nine European regions through the prism of their familiarity and understanding of its constituent parts: concepts, value chains, benefits and risks. The novelty of the research consists in assessing the understanding of the bioeconomy at regional level. Instead of imposing a conventional top-down agenda, it seeks to elicit practitioner conceptualisations, based on 534 survey responses conducted in the respective regional languages. Descriptive and summary statistics were used to explore the data, followed by non-parametric tests.Key findings are: (1) A positive discourse on the bioeconomy is observed, particularly among survey respondents with high self-rated familiarity, but this may not align with its factual drawbacks. (2) Practical bioeconomy implementation is complex. Environmental benefits are perceived as its most distinguishing feature, yet respondents also consider socioeconomic elements important. Similarly, tensions are observed between personal risks versus societal benefits. Therefore, a sustainable bioeconomy must reconcile environmental and socioeconomic objectives, and different levels of impact. (3) Despite an emerging consensus on the bioeconomy's constituent elements, sector-specific focus areas and regional specificity of conditions prevent uniformity of the bioeconomy across regions. This should be taken into account in policy formulation.

Художественная жизнь Северной Осетии в условиях социально-политических и экономических изменений (1991–2001 гг.)

Introduction. The reforming of the state structure in the early 90s of the XX century affected all spheres of social life in Russia, which largely determined the vector of further development of artistic culture. Artistic culture is the area that reflects and rethinks the transformational and crisis phenomena in any state. The relevance of the study is conditioned by the recognition of the state cultural policy as an integral part of the national security strategy of the Russian Federation. Undoubtedly, artistic life requires careful study in order to analyze the state cultural policy and the implementation of historical reality in the ethno-cultural component. The novelty of the study is that for the first time the problem revealing regional features of artistic culture is covered with the involvement of an array of archival documents and periodical press materials of North Ossetia. The reference to the relatively past period allows us to identify and formulate key problems, as well as tasks that are relevant in modern society for timely solution. Materials and Methods. The article, based on archival documents and periodicals, examines the artistic life of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania from 1991 to 2001 through the prism of regional specifics of all-Russian processes. Using retrospective and historical-comparative methods, the author has identified the main directions of the artistic life in the republic, as well as the key problems that hindered its qualitative development in the region. Analysis. Historically, in different periods, state authorities have used artistic culture to form priority value and moral orientations. Cultural policy and artistic life in the USSR were characterised by the predominant influence of the public sector. With the collapse of the USSR the former mechanisms of regulation of cultural and other spheres of life were destroyed. The new Russian state faced with the task of creating and shaping renewed cultural, moral and ethical values both in the country as a whole and in multi-ethnic and multi-confessional regions. North Ossetia-Alania is a multi-ethnic republic, so the priority task in the sphere of culture was the need to preserve and develop the foundations of traditional cultural values. Artistic life as the functioning of the system of artistic culture, which includes various types of activities for the production, dissemination, assimilation of artistic values, is one of the key components in the formation of the modern Russian state and society. Results. As a result of the study, the author came to the conclusion that the development of culture in the studied period had a spontaneous and contradictory character, and the artistic life was vulnerable in the conditions of socio-economic and political changes in the country.

The circular economy skills: regional dimension

Relevance. In the pursuit of sustainable development, the circular economy takes precedence as a fundamental imperative for industrial transformation. The current trend in the development of the circular economy concept is to place the main focus on the technological support of circularization and the corresponding innovations in business models, while the decisive role people play in this model of economy is often overlooked. Individuals with specialized knowledge, skills, and values are essential for developing and implementing circular models, making effective management decisions, and promoting rational consumption patterns. The demand for circular skills and the availability of relevant competencies can significantly differ across regions, necessitating further in-depth study. Research objective. The paper is aimed at developing a new methodological approach to the study of circular economy skills at the regional level. This approach considers these skills in terms of both employer demand and their incorporation into master's degree programs, accounting for regional specifics. Data and methods. The study employed a comprehensive approach, integrating theoretical methods with empirical analysis. Scientometric and content analysis identified taxonomies of circular economy skills, and employers' personnel needs were examined through the analysis of the HeadHunter job site using Python software. Additionally, the study encompassed an analysis of educational programs from official websites of universities in southern Russian regions. Results. A new approach to the study of supply and demand of circular economy skills at the regional level has been proposed and tested. As a result, it was determined that there is a demand for sustainable development specialists in various industries in the Russian labor market, which varies across different regions of the country. The relevant skills are included in the master’s degree programs offered by universities. There is a need for greater involvement of regional authorities in shaping educational demands presented to universities, as this is essential for generating demand in the job market for the corresponding competencies. Conclusions. To better achieve targets in sustainable development and facilitate the transition to a circular economy, it is essential to promote a balanced development of all the relevant skills and behavioral patterns. To ensure this, it is important to involve regional authorities in shaping the demand for these skills.

Vaccination coverage, hesitancy and associated factors: a household survey of a cohort of children born in 2017 and 2018 in urban areas of state capital cities in the Brazilian Northeast.

To estimate vaccination coverage and analyze sociodemographic factors associated with non-vaccination in children born in 2017 and 2018 in the state capitals of Northeast Brazil. A household survey using cluster sampling was conducted from 2020-2022 to estimate vaccination coverage and hesitancy. Factors associated with non-vaccination were analyzed using logistic regression to calculate Odds Ratios (OR) and their Confidence Intervals (95%CI). Natal was the capital with the lowest vaccination coverage, below 75.0% for most immunizers. Teresina had rates equal to or greater than 90.0% for all vaccines. Among those interviewed, 99.1% (95%CI 98.9;99.3) believe that vaccines are important for health; 95.4% (95%CI 95.0;95.8) trust immunobiologicals and 79.6% (95%CI% 78.8;80.3) are not afraid of reactions. Belonging to the highest socioeconomic stratum (adjusted OR: 1.34 - 95%CI 1.20;1.50) was as a factor associated with non-vaccination. Low coverage highlights the need for a better understanding of regional specificities and social inequalities.