Vol. 16 No. 6 (2014)

4 декабря 2014 года Президент Российской Федерации В.В. Путин выступил с ежегодным Посланием Федеральному Собранию. В Георгиевском зале Кремля на оглашении Послания присутствовали члены Совета Федерации, депутаты Государственной Думы, члены Правительства, руководители Конституционного и Верховного судов, губернаторский корпус, председатели законодательных собраний субъектов Федерации, главы традиционных конфессий, общественные деятели, в том числе главы общественных палат регионов, руководители крупнейших средств массовой информации. Мы публикуем документ с сокращениями.

The article discusses the features of the formation of regional growth points. It is noted that in the development of growth points the primary concern is the scope of innovation in the region. At the same time, a special role is played by infrastructure components - as channels of innovation distribution. An analysis of different approaches to understanding the points of growth in the economy of the region is made as well as, offering a personal understanding and awareness of this category. The guaranteed financial and social effects of multiplicative points of growth in such regions is also examined. The conclusion reached is that the strategic choices favoring the formation of points of growth and diversification based on a region's economy will in the long run lead towards the achievement of higher socio-economic results.

Effective from 1 January 2014 the law on the system of contracting changed many aspects of the procurement process for customers as well as participation in performing such purchases. However, the new law offered no indicative manner or templates for the systematization of the applications for participation in the procurement process. The author notes that the principles of operation remain the same. Customers are guided by internal documents for procurement and the current need to conduct specific work, make the tender documentation, which does not always clearly reflect the criteria and requirements towards such performance. Suppliers in turn, are forced to adapt to the customer's requirements. The paper proposes the introduction of a system in submitting applications for participation for tenders or procurements by filling out online forms on the website of the customer. The author justifies its proposal as it will accelerate the processing of applications and minimize the likelihood of inputting incorrect data. In addition, this measure will reduce the risks of corruption in the public procurement process.

This article was prepared based on the results of research work carried out by the Center of Public Administration Technology, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration within the stated task framework of RANEPA 2014. According to the results of the analysis of legislation, it identified shortcomings of the current legal regulations on pre-trial appeals against decisions and actions (inaction) of the authorities and their officials in the exercise of state control (supervision). These are and include: the lack of adequate legislative regulations of a special orders on pre-trial appeals; the absence of a set list of grounds (subjects) on pre-trial appeals in compliance and enforcement activities; a considerable general lengthy term for the examination of the complaint which is often beyond the deadline of the appealed orders; the absence of specific, differentiated responsibilities of «guilty» officials for refusing to consider the complaint, the unjustified refusal to satisfy it, and the elimination of their consequences. Presented herein are proposals for the development on pre-trial appeal mechanisms in the exercise of state control (supervision) and their regulations.

Today tax disputes are the most prevalent category of cases arising out of public disputes which are considered by arbitration courts, as well as having a tendency of further increasing quantitatively. In this connection, the term «tax disputes» is widespread, both in legal literature and in judicial practice.

The article analyzes the development of the general concept of a legal entity in public law in Russian Jurisprudence. The author considers the viewpoints of Soviet jurists such as A.V. Venediktov, V.P. Gribanova, S.N. Brethren, M.I. Kulagin and contemporary authors - A.Y. Kurbatov, V.E. Chirkina, V.A. Boldyrev, V.F. Yakovlev and V.S. White on the nature of the legal entity of public law. Particular attention is paid to the state and its relationship with the concept of a legal entity.

The article describes dynamics of the crisis in Eastern Ukraine in August 2014. The author raises a question: will the West abandon the self-defeating strategy of isolating Russia in order to transform jointly this conflict into a problem-solving dialogue? There is considerable pressure and psychological need to justify previous decisions to avoid losing face. Based on the above analysis, the author offers three possible scenarios for further development of the crisis and consequences for the parties involved.

This paper focuses on the political and legal aspects of the concept of state sovereignty in the context of the modern political situation. The author presents the main factors ensuring the sovereignty and state integrity of the Russian Federation in the course of the integrating process within the context of globalization.

A consideration of the main objects and directions of social investment. The criteria of evaluating the prospects for social investments and methods of their determination. Results of testing the proposed methodology.

Addressing some conclusions and generalizations set forth in the «National Report on Social Investments in Russia 2014: to create value for business and society», the author analyzes the situation on the perception of the concept of corporate social responsibility in the post-crisis period, gives his vision of the causes of the brake in the process of implementing its principles in Russian business practices and he makes recommendations to address the key problems.

In this paper, an analysis based on economic, housing and demographic statistics justify the use of the reverse mortgage financial facilities as a private form of commercial financial support service for retirees. The main characteristics and properties of reverse mortgage programs are compared with those of rental housing and the contract of sale with the conditional life and content interest. Furthermore, the advantages and risks of using the mechanism of reverse mortgages for pensioners are ventilated. The article also provides the most comprehensive bibliography and sources of information on reverse mortgages as well as providing a brief description and recommendations for the implementation of this borrowing facility in the Russian economy and society.

This article deals with the strengthening of the role of the state and the improvements of its policies in attracting investment in the Russian oil industry. It emphasizes the need for priority actions in the field of state regulation of the economy.

Socio-economic results of management in highly developed countries are largely dependent on the dynamics and operation of small businesses. The implementation course of modernization in Russia is not possible without the formation of a high-tech sector and the commercialization of new ideas in all federal districts and regions. The effective promotion of entrepreneurship in the territories is based on objective and reliable information about its development condition. The paper proposes a system of interrelated indicators to assess the level and trend of the development of small business in a particular federal district on the background of nationwide results.

In recent times, innovative products and technologies have ceased to play a key role in establishing a company's competitiveness, as these can be copied relatively quickly and inexpensively. Nowadays, one of the main sources of competitive advantages in an organization in ensuring its superiority, are innovations in management. This connection therefore raises the need in finding new methods and control technologies. Such innovations include the use of modern methods of teambuilding, SRM - stakeholders' relationship management-, talent management as well as various manifestations of crowdsourcing. SRM identifies the connection between the so-called interested parties, as well as contributing towards building with them long-term trusting relationships. Talent management comprises the activities in the field of personnel management aimed at involving employees in the innovation process, the formation of incentives and the development of their creativity. Particular attention is given to manifestations of employee's initiatives, creativity and passion, which in turn give rise to the courage, imagination and enthusiasm providing a continuous flow of innovations. Thus, the most valuable resource of an organization is having sustainable competitive advantages, by incubating and developing group tacit knowledge.

The article provides scientific commentary to paragraphs 9-10, 32, 44 of the Regulations on the awarding of degrees, from which it follows that the requirements for the scientific results of dissertations are false, and the evaluation criteria and procedures have not been established.

Publicized material on the results of the field meeting of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation on increasing the effectiveness of the dissertation councils and the re-registration of reviewed scientific publications.

The article presents a speech given by Metropolitan Hilarion on the prospects of cooperation in the educational activities of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration and the Russian Orthodox Church.

The article deals with contemporary issues and current trends in the field of administrative and legal regulations in countering corruption associated with the proliferation of domestic and foreign experiences in the standardization of control systems for anti-corruption activities carried out by organizations regardless of their form of ownership, organizational and legal form, sector or other circumstances. The author discusses the main problems arising as a result of anti-corruption policies, not based on competent and scientific approaches. He clearly shows how such an approach could create a high risk of the use of subjective factors and assumptions, as well as leading towards the opposite result, enhancing the corruption component. Based on the examples of anti-corruption measures in a number of public and private organizations, their extensive professional experience, as well as data from international scientific conferences, the author proves the need for standardization of approaches to deal with corruption and their harmonization with international instruments in this field.

The article considers the correlation between the state service and the literary creation of the outstanding Russian satirist Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. The political position of Saltykov-Shchedrin has been quite moderate; he believed that the responsible, principled and conscientious person in the public service could benefit society. The article demonstrates that for him the state public service and satire on the Russian system of governance did not contradict each other.

The low voter turnout during the European parliamentary elections of 2014 demonstrated the attitude of Europe's citizens towards the common European idea. Eastern Europe especially virtually ignored the elections by its very low electoral participation, despite the fact that these countries were Europe's main beneficiaries after joining the EU in receiving tremendous subsidies. The article focuses on the phenomenon of “euro-fatigue” and euroskepticism. The authors' goal is to analyze the results of the European elections and to show the correlation between voter passivity and a growing centralization and bureaucratization in Brussels' processes of economic and political decision-making. Special attention is paid on the main results of the 2014 European elections, which garnered unprecedented support for right-wing populist and Eurosceptic parties in countries like France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark. The authors emphasize the possible consequences of the ongoing economic crisis that may result in a division of the eurozone into two parts: a strong northern euro and a weak southern euro. They also concentrate on the lack of transparency and efficiency in the work of such European Union institutions such as the European parliament (an institution represented by more than 160 European participating parties) and the European commission (which is still formed by appointments from all 28 EU member states). The authors conclude that Europe is unlikely to move towards further integration if its citizens are no longer living on the ideal of further European association and in fact are becoming increasingly demanding a return almost by all, without exception, of competency of governance to national governments.

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of progress in the implementation of administrative reforms in developed countries for example, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The relevance of the topic stems from the fact that the twenty-year history of public service reforms in Russia, has not brought tangible results and accordingly, it is considered an appropriate time to review and revise the main directions of the reforms intended to improve the functioning of the state apparatus and the management of social and economic processes in the country. The authors conducted comparisons of systemized and statistical indicators characterizing the civil service systems in the OECD countries and that of Russia from which, conclusions are drawn as to the success of the civil service reforms in the developed countries. The article traces the main trends towards the implementation of the concept of New Public Management in developed countries from which, the results of such survey, may be utilized by public authorities responsible for the implementation of administrative reforms in Russia.

The paper analyzes the value features that determine the choice of a military profession. The purpose of this research work was to disclose the features of professional choice of cadets in the context of the problems of socio-economic and socio-cultural transformation of modern Russian society. The method of the study was based on a questionnaire survey of cadets of the 1st and 5th year students of the Saratov St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk Interior Military Troop Institutes conducted by the author in 2013. The basis of the survey is on the idea of choice of a profession as a “spatial orientation” of the individual in existing social and professional values. Space represented by the poles of selection “society - the community” and “professional in individualism - collectivism.” The sampling was continuous and totaled 593 people. According to the survey, conclusions were drawn about the transformation of young people of traditional ideas values and characteristic of the military profession and the nomination of the priority of values such as career development, material support, the ability to manage the quality of professional work. The outcome of the results of the study can be used to organize activities of military-patriotic education of modern youth at the level of general secondary education and higher military school.

The article presents the results of a study in information processes that was carried out during the Presidential election campaign of the Russian Federation in the spring of 2012, conducted by the author based on a sociological survey of students and teachers of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The formulation of the theoretical basis of the study derived the concepts of information and political behavior of the individual and formed as a result of such field of information the individual personality in the realm of political communication. Based on the analysis of the proposed concepts, a list of the main factors determining the processes of interaction of a person with the political realm. In conclusion, it summarizes the results of the study, and draws conclusions about the possibility of the further use of concepts of information and political behavior and the information field of the individual as the basis of political studies and modeling of information processes in the area of political communication.