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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2017‒11‒05
nine papers chosen by |
| By: | Marina Kolosnitsyna (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Natalia Khorkina (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Anton Volkov (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | In economic theory, alcohol consumption is considered as an addictive and sometimes irrational behaviour. Such behaviour often leads to undesirable external effects: increasing crime rates, traffic and occupational accidents, fires, and domestic violence. That is why most countries facing high levels of alcohol intake apply special measures to reduce consumption and, as a result, the external effects. Recently, the same measures have also been put in place in Russia, including price rises and time restrictions on retail alcohol sales. This paper investigates the influence of these measures on crime indicators. The empirical study is based on an econometric analysis of panel data from Russian regions, 2003-2015. The results confirm the effectiveness of time restrictions on alcohol sales with regard to juvenile and adult crime. However, the increase of vodka prices due to increasing excise tax reduces juvenile crime but does not influence crime rates among adults |
| Keywords: | alcohol; alcohol policies; crime; Russia. |
| JEL: | H23 I18 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:11/psp/2017&r=cis |
| By: | Bukvić, Rajko; Pajović, Ivan |
| Abstract: | English. The article considers the problem of pollution and destruction of environment, especially the pollution of atmosphere. Within these, problems of the carbon concentration, i.e. greenhouse gases, are considered as one of the main results of the anthropogenic activities, and consequently one of the main causes of the global climate change. In the second half of the XX century many schemes for involving market mechanism in solving these problems were proposed. These efforts especially increased in the last decade of XX century and finally the Kyoto Protocol supported many flexible mechanisms, as a solution for these problems. In spite of all these efforts, during the first period of its implementation (2008–2012) the emissions of carbon were increased. Experiences with market, not only in this sector, leave the problem unresolved: is the market universal solution. Russian. В статье рассматриваются проблемы загрязнения и разрушения природной среды, особенно атмосферы. Следовательно, проблемы концентрации углерода, т.е. парниковых газов рассматриваются как одно из основных последствий антропогенной деятельности, а также одной из основных причин глобального изменения климата. Во второй половине 20-го века было предложено применение многих схем создания рыночних механизмов решения этих проблем. Несмотря на все эти усилия, в течение первого периода их осуществления (2008-2012 годы) выброс углерода вырос. Прошлый опыт, не только в этой области, оставляет открытым вопрос: является ли рынок универсальним решением. |
| Keywords: | greenhouse gases (GHG), the Kyoto Protocol, carbon markets, flexible mechanisms, regional schemes парниковые газы, Киотский протокол, рынки углерода, гибкие механизмы, региональные схемы |
| JEL: | H23 K32 L50 L51 Q53 Q56 R11 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:82099&r=cis |
| By: | Fabián Slonimczyk; Marco Francesconi; Anna Yurko |
| Abstract: | In 2009, Russia introduced a reform that changed the admissions process in all universities. Before 2009, admission decisions were based on institution-specific entry exams; the reform required universities to determine their decisions on the results of a national high-school test known as Unified State Exam (USE). One of the main goals of the reform was to make education in top colleges accessible to students from peripheral areas who typically did not enroll in university programs. Using panel data from 1994 to 2014, we evaluate the effect of the USE reform on student mobility. We find the reform led to a substantial increase in mobility rates among high school graduates from peripheral areas to start college by about 12 percentage points, a three-fold increase with respect to the pre-reform mobility rate. This was accompanied by a 40-50% increase in the likelihood of financial transfers from parents to children around the time of the move and a 70% increase in the share of educational expenditures in the last year of the child’s high school. We find no effect on parental labor supply and divorce. |
| Keywords: | human capital, student migration, Russia, university admission |
| JEL: | J61 O15 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6447&r=cis |
| By: | Alexander A. Yalbulganov (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | Revenues from the oil and gas industry continue to make up the largest proportion of state budget revenues. Public-legal payments with a non-tax character enacted by the Law of the Russian Federation on Subsoil (“Subsoil Law”) have an important role in the diversification of payments for the use of subsoil. The author, on the basis of an analysis of legislation, court practice and doctrine, proposes to revise the payment system established by the Subsoil Law and include regular payments to the system of taxes and fees, and modernize one-off payments by fixing all of their elements in the legislation, and not in the individual administrative legal acts |
| Keywords: | chargeability of subsoil use; payments for the use of subsoil; subsoil users; regular and one-off payments; production sharing agreements |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:75/law/2017&r=cis |
| By: | Gavrilova, T.; Alsufiev, A.; Pleshkova, A. |
| Abstract: | This paper is bringing the focus on knowledge management elements and analyses their influence on the performance of the company. Namely knowledge management practices are considered the key element for enhanced innovative performance. The main research method is exploratory factor analysis with preliminary analysis of covariations among variables. Research bases on results of survey conducted among Russian companies during 2017 and intends to reveal interrelationships among KM and Performance constructs that are peculiar for Russian market. |
| Keywords: | knowledge management, organization performance, KM practices, |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sps:wpaper:8598&r=cis |
| By: | Roesel, Felix |
| Abstract: | Left-hand drive (LHD) vehicles share higher road accident risks under left-hand traffic because of blind spot areas. Due to low import prices, the number of wrong-hand drive vehicles skyrockets in emerging countries like Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. I identify the causal effect of wrong-hand drive vehicles on road safety employing a new \backward version" of the synthetic control method. Sweden switched from left-hand to right-hand traffcin 1967. Before 1967, however, almost all Swedish vehicles were LHD for reasons of international trade and Swedish customer demand. I match on accident figures in the period after 1967, when both Sweden and other European countries drove on the right and used LHD vehicles. Results show that right-hand traffic decreased road fatality, injury and accident risk in Sweden by a proximately 30 percent. An earlier switch would have saved more than 4,000 lives between 1953 and 1966. |
| Keywords: | road accidents,Sweden,natural experiment,synthetic control method |
| JEL: | R41 K32 C53 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:tudcep:1517&r=cis |
| By: | Ivakina, A.; Zenkevich, N. |
| Abstract: | The paper is devoted to development of working capital management (WCM) model providing optimal levels of working capital (WC) to all individual business partners through collaborative actions of capital reallocation along the supply chain (SC). As such, we suggest the tool of WC optimization through financial terms and cash flows verified on Russian collaborative SC data. Mathematical modeling is suggested as a method to upgrade existing collaborative cash conversion cycle (CCC) model by optimizing it in terms of minimization of total financial costs associated with working capital in a three-stage SC. Three sets of constraints – for each SC partner, for the whole SC and for SC structure consequently - are imposed. The application of the suggested optimization model to focal SC provided significant speed up of individual CCCs and investments in WC on the grounds of combination of extension of days of accounts payable, reduction of days of inventories and reduction of days of accounts receivable in different proportions for SC participants. The theoretical contribution resides in integration of collaboration and WC concepts adding a holistic perspective to extant WCM models, as well as in integration of financial and operational measures of SCM. The suggested model financially illustrates the motivation of SC partners to cooperate in order to simultaneously achieve target levels of WC investments and improve individual financial performance through collaborative operations. |
| Keywords: | collaboration, financial supply chain management, working capital management, |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sps:wpaper:8600&r=cis |
| By: | Maya Lavrinovich (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | This paper discusses the problem of the adaptation of a new cultural model by the educated members of the Russian “middle class” in the late 18th century when new social skills and new kinds of the perception of social reality were transmitted to the public through the emotionally very intensive theatre performances. Examining the translation of the drama Poverty and Nobleness of Mind by August von Kozebue and taking into account that the drama was staged at the private theatre of Alexandr Vorontsov, Malinovskii’s patron, in 1799, I suggest that he had some apprehensions about his own noble status which he obtained in a specific way. He seems to face the choice: to act on his feelings as sentimental dramas instructed him and marry a poor but noble girl in 1790s, or wait until Vorontsov’s niece became a wealthy heiress what actually happened in a decade |
| Keywords: | Russia, 18th century, Aleksei Malinovskii, August von Kotzebue, theatre, translation, ennoblement, sentimentalism, marriage strategies. |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:155/hum/2017&r=cis |
| By: | Simone Tagliapietra; Georg Zachmann |
| Abstract: | This paper was produced within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Energy and Climate Dialogues, with the kind support of Stiftung Mercator In a period of stress in the relationship between the European Union and Turkey, cooperation over energy could be a bright spot, because of strong mutual interests. However, EU-Turkey cooperation over energy requires a rethink. Up to now, gas and electricity have represented the main components of cooperation. Though highly visible, cooperation in these fields appears to be limited in practise. By contrast, cooperation in other fields – such as renewables, energy efficiency, nuclear energy and emissions trading – could make a real impact on long-term energy, climate and environmental sustainability, and on overall macroeconomic and geopolitical stability. On renewables and energy efficiency, the EU could support Turkey by scaling-up the financial support it currently provides within the framework of its climate finance commitments. This would reinforce the case for renewables and efficiency projects in Turkey, particularly as the cost of capital continues to represent a major barrier for these investments. On nuclear energy, the EU can make a sensible contribution to the establishment of a nuclear energy sector in Turkey. This can notably be accomplished by integrating Turkey into the framework of Euratom. On carbon markets, the EU can offer institutional support to Turkey, as is already being done with other countries such as China. Refocusing bilateral cooperation on renewable energy, energy efficiency, nuclear energy and carbon markets would be more effective and strategic for both the EU and Turkey. For the EU, it would provide an opportunity to put its sustainable energy leadership aspirations into practice, while opening up new commercial opportunities. For Turkey, it would enhance both climate and environmental performance, while reducing the energy import bill and energy dependency on Russia. This change in priorities would also be important to head off Turkey’s rush into coal. Turkey currently has the third largest coal power plant development programme in the world, after India and China. |
| Date: | 2017–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bre:polcon:22488&r=cis |