Structural transformations of the economy in the Pacific Region of Russia and efficiency trends

Pacific Russia is viewed as an aqua-territorial macro-region that encompasses the Far Eastern Federal District and the adjacent water area within the 200-mile maritime economic zone. The macro-region has a wealth of natural resources at land and on sea, opportunities for the use of sea transport to link Russia and Europe with the countries of Asia-Pacific Region. Pacific Russia is divided into 2 latitudinal zones — the northern zone and southern zone, which include the territories of northern and southern constituents of the Russian Far Eastern Federal District. The combinations of activities by constituent entities and latitudinal zones are considered as the territorial structures of the economy. This article reveals the differences in socio-economic capacity and development level of these latitudinal zones. The authors have assessed the structural transformations in the economy of latitudinal zones in 2004–2013 by taking into account the changes of similar activities in the constituent entities and their ratios measured as a share of value added. This allowed to identify the transformations of territorial economic structures in the latitudinal zones. Over this period, the greatest changes of economic structures occurred in the northern zone. In the southern zone, the structural transformations of the economy were smaller, except for the Sakhalin region. In all latitudinal zones, there was a decrease in the share of manufacturing industries and the increase in the share of extractive industries. The article compares the generalized assessment of changes in the social and economic efficiency (by the growth of population income, labor productivity, and profits) with the structural changes in the economy of the constituent entities of Pacific Russia. The authors note that an important premise for building a sufficiently sustainable system of interregional division of labor in Pacific Russia is the location of extractive industries and initial stages of the manufacturing industry activities in the northern zone, while the major manufacturing industries and interregional transport and logistics services are located in the southern zone. This article is intended for experts and students interested in the development problems of Russia’s eastern regions.The article has been prepared with the support of the Russian Science Foundation Grant “Factors, mechanisms and types of structural transformation and modernization of territorial socio-economic systems in Pacific Russia” (№ 14–18–03185)

Bridging the Innovation Divide: An Agenda for Disseminating Technology Innovations within the Nonprofit Sector

Examines technology practices -- such as neighborhood information systems, electronic advocacy, Internet-based micro enterprise support, and digital inclusion initiatives -- that strengthen the capacity of nonprofits and community organizations

Why Do Business Service Firms Cluster? Small Consultancies, Clustering and Decentralisation in London and Southern England

Notwithstanding their remarkable recent growth, surprisingly little research has hitherto been conducted on the evolving geography of professional and business services in Britain. This paper analyses the results of a detailed survey of 300 small and medium-sized management and engineering consultancies, in investigating the forces underpinning both the striking clustering of such firms in central London and their growth in decentralised locations of East Anglia and South West England. Particular attention is paid to the role of demand-side influences, localised 'collective learning' processes, and increasing globalisation in clustering, and to so called 'enterprising behaviour theory' in explaining decentralisation.business services, clustering London, globalisation, SMEs, collective learning

The role of local perceptions in the marketing of rural areas

This paper explores the ways that two rural counties are marketed, both as locations for enterprise and for tourist appeal. Secondary data sources and expert interviews provide the basis for a comparison of approaches in each case. To analyse marketing communication from the Cornish and Northumbrian tourism and regional development agencies, the Interaction Model of Communication and principles underpinning Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) are used. The research evaluates the fit of the marketing rhetoric against the perceptions and lived experiences of samples of business owners drawn from each county. A particular focus is apportioned to in-migrant business owners as they have had perceptions of their destination both before and after moving. It is discovered that social factors are highly significant, meaning that place marketers must engage with local communities as well as their external target audiences. This deeper understanding of the ways in which perceptions of place identity and reputation influence decision-making and communication offerings by local marketers, is a valuable insight for the way marketing is undertaken in, and of, rural areas. Beyond marketing, the findings demonstrate the significance of inter-relationships between social and economic influences in the rural economy

NGOS and Internet Use in Uganda

Information technology (IT) research has ignored examining\ud the impact of the Internet on unconnected stakeholder communities in the South. This research, which investigates how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with connectivity are utilising the Internet for their daily operations, and how they are able to acquire and disseminate information from the Internet to their stakeholders, hopes to correct such injustices. The research was undertaken over an eight-week period in early 1998 in Uganda, East Africa. The survey involved representatives of 33 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) responding to seven openended questions related to their organisations’ use of the Internet, and their information communication patterns. The paper begins with a brief background on Uganda and its telecommunications environment, including a summary of the seven Internet Service Providers (ISPs) currently operating in the country. The survey questions are identified, and the responses are organised into thematic categories which became apparent during the course of the study. The term “Internet” is used to refer to email-only services, as well as World Wide Web services. The research found that NGOs report benefiting from their use of the Internet through reduced transmission costs, access to new and relevant information, and greater contact with their own field sites and partner organisations. NGO representatives’ responses also indicate that the dissemination of Internet-acquired information is occurring with their stakeholders, regardless whether those stakeholders have connectivity or not. The majority of NGOs surveyed (70%) have only one computer with Internet connectivity within their offices; this presents challenges and restrictions in terms of the frequency with which the Internet can be accessed. A mere 5% of the NGOs with field sites reported that those sites were connected with either email or Internet; 33% reported having field sites without any means of direct voice or data transmission systems. The\ud majority of NGOs with World Wide Web service reported using the systems for accessing and researching documents relevant to their work, but 32% of those organisations reported that they either seldom or never used the Internet that was available to them. Most NGOs reported that they used the email to communicate with international partners; use of the\ud Internet for local communications is low. Respondents reported that email was a very convenient mode of communications, effective in transmitting documents at lower costs than other technologies. Obtaining access to the\ud computers, and the sending and receiving of attached documents proved the most problematic issues for respondents; the latter issue raises questions about the quality of training these organisations are receiving\ud from their ISPs. The paper concludes with lessons learned from the research, and recommends areas for more detailed study

Atypical working practices in the East Midlands

The aim of this research was to examine the extent and nature of atypical working practices in the East Midlands region and, in particular, look at the way in which these forms of work are likely to encourage employment and economic development in remote rural areas, and more generally, promote social inclusion

The UK Employment and Skills almanac 2010 (Evidence Report 26)

"Employment and skills are not the only determinants of productivity and a fairer and more inclusive society; other external drivers include economic, technological, institutional and political factors and fall outside the remit of the UK Commission. This study has sought to recognise these other drivers and incorporate them into the evidence base where necessary and possible. The latest data included within the Almanac runs to 2009, covering the recessionary period in part. Where relevant to the discussion the implication of the recession is noted, and we have included in our concluding chapter a spotlight feature on the impact of the recession on young people. This report and accompanying workbooks hosted on the Almanac Online website form the evidence base." - Page 15