Employment Protection Legislation in Russia: Regional Enforcement and Labour Market Outcomes

The efficiency of the labour market critically depends on the design of its institutions with employment protection legislation (EPL) playing a special role here. However, since formal laws can be observed or ignored to varying degrees, the actual enforcement regime shapes incentives and constraints. Most of the studies exploring EPL effects on labour market performance implicitly assume that EPL compliance is near to complete and therefore all firms bear full adjustment costs incurred by the regulations. This seems to be a very strong assumption for any country but it sounds especially strong and hardly plausible for developing and transition economies. But if compliance and enforcement varies widely across regions/cities or segments of firms, then this variation is likely to cause variation in performance. This paper looks at Russia in particular. The main idea of this paper is to reveal and describe cross-regional and inter-temporal variation in EPL enforcement and to explore empirically whether it is translated into regional labour market outcomes. The paper employs unique data set based on the State Labour Inspectorate data and the Supreme court statistics on labour disputes.employment protection regulations, enforcement, employment, unemployment, regional labor markets

Stuck Between Surplus and Shortage: Demand for Skills in the Russian Industry

In order to remain competitive, firms need to keep the quantity and composition of jobs close to the optimal for their given output. Since the beginning of the transition period, Russian industrial firms have been widely reporting that the quantity and composition of hired labor is far from being close to optimal. This paper discusses what kinds of firms in the Russian manufacturing sector are not able to optimize their employment and why. Do they suffer from a labor shortage induced by rapid growth, or are they still struggling with employment overhang? What are the occupations and skills in which there is a supposed surplus or shortage? What factors affect the probability that a firm will report non-optimal employment and be unable to solve this difficulty? Where is the labor excess/shortage concentrated and what makes it persistent? Finally, we discuss the costs of non-optimal employment. The analysis presented in this article is based on the data from a large-scale survey of Russian manufacturing firms.

Внедрение модели «3-р» в концепцию стратегического управления муниципальными образованиями

России механизмы реализации местного самоуправления недостаточно разработаны. Это приводит к тому, что деятельность органов власти ныне неэффективна. Актуальность исследования заключается в разработке модели, которая позволит улучшить систему муниципального управления. При разработке теоретической модели «3-р» авторами был выдвинут ряд гипотез с применением метода бенчмаркинга и анализа мировой практики организации муниципального управления. Для проверки разработанной теоретической модели авторами было проведено социологическое исследование, что позволило усовершенствовать элементы модели «3-р», исключив не подтвердившиеся гипотезы и добавив выявленные немаловажные компоненты. Созданная авторами модель – самоорганизуемая система, в ней присутствуют обратные связи, возможно усиление потока ресурсов и получение синергетического эффекта

Депрессивные расстройства у женщин в климактерическом возрасте (обзор зарубежной литературы за 2012–2016 гг.)

Objective: to systematically review foreign literature and interpret results of the review. Tasks: to review foreign papers where factors are considered which provoke development of depression: hormonal, psychological, social as well as neuromediators, hormonal and immune disturbances in depressive disorders in women with physiological climacteric and climacteric syndrome; issues of differential diagnostics of depressions, psychopharmaco- and psychotherapy with subsequent evaluation of clinical efficiency; personality profile of pateints with affective psychopathology.Methods of search: by keywords in Web of Science Core Collection database across foreign journals (2012– 2016). Criteria of inclusion of papers in the review are determined by themes of studies: 1) women of climacteric age; 2) presence of depression or depressive symptoms; 3) presence of climacteric disturbances. In the abstract-bibliographic and scientometric database Web of Science Core Collection 70 bibliographic sources are selected across foreign journals between 2012 and 2016, including journals with high Impact Factor. Studies included in the review are performed at the university clinics, specialized centers. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of female patients meet the criterion of compatibility. Most discussed papers are devoted to study of clinical and social-psychological factors of development of climacteric depression. In a number of papers the efficiency of antidepressant therapy, alternative methods and supplementary therapy in women with depressive disorders, climacteric disturbances and co-occurring physical diseases is shown. Most works are performed with involvement of questionnaires (sociodemographic data, anamnesis) and international clinical scales. The main results of the discussed papers are outlined in thematic rubrics.Conclusion. The European and American papers are used in this review more frequently; studies from Asian countries are used more seldom. Reviewed foreign publications reflect worldwide trend to increase of climacteric depression (CD) in the female population with presence in the anamnesis of adolescent (psychoendocrine alteration) and postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome. Low timely diagnostics of depressions, high incidence rate of somaticized CD are noted. In the structure of climacteric syndrome the psychoemotional disturbances predominate above neurovegetative and metabolic-endocrine or are combined with vegetative dysfunction. The participation in formation of CD (with predominance of mild/moderate severity) of neurohormonal, genetic, biochemical, social-environmental, psychological factors is shown. In the reviewed sources low mood, loss of previous priorities, decrease of productivity and concentration of attention, position of being unprotected, dependence, lack of confidence, self-humiliation, repentance, unbelief in future, insomnias, hypo-/hyperrexia with change of body mass are described in CD but there are no publications on suicidal ideation. It is indicated that CD can flow with hysteric- and nosophobic, somatohypochondriac and asthenohypochondriac component. The authors consider that somatization as an experience of climacteric stress leads to somaticized CD with accent on physical symptoms and repression of depression and anxiety although an association of specific somatic nosologies with symptoms of CD is not described. The association of CD with social-environmental factors (gender, education, profession, social position, financial wealth) is discussed, achievement of the woman is considered as a actor of reduction of CD risk. The authors are highly interested in search for genetic markers (heredity, suicides in relatives), impairment of neuromediator exchange (neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline), neuromorphologic alterations in brain sensorimotor cortex (motor function, attention, perception, memory, and emotional-motivational response), hormonal disturbances (neuroendocrine and metabolic) and psychoneuroimmunological patterns of association with CD. Psychopharmacotherapy in CD is constructed with account for depressive symptoms (antidepressants of activating/sedative action in long-term maintenance regime), background and co-occurring diseases (adequate and pathogenetic and immunotherapy) with involvement in case of absence of contraindications of substitutive hormonotherapy (estrogen, progesterone). Beyond conventional schemes of the therapy the alternative therapy of CD (acupuncture, yoga, phytoestrogen collections, and food additives) is discussed. For heightening the efficiency and safety of the therapy of CD the training in detection of CD signs both for female patients and nurses, psychologists, social workers is proposed. Цель: обзор зарубежной периодики с интерпретацией результатов.Задачи: обзор зарубежных работ, в которых рассматриваются провоцирующие развитие депрессии факторы: гормональный, психологический, социальный, а также нейромедиаторные, гормональные и иммунные нарушения при депрессивных расстройствах у женщин с физиологическим климактерием и климактерическим синдромом; дифференциальная диагностика, психофармако- и психотерапия депрессий с оценкой клинической эффективности; личностный профиль пациентов с аффективной психопатологией.Методы поиска: по ключевым словам в базе данных Web of Science Core Collection по зарубежным журналам (2012–2016 гг.).Критерии включения статей в обзор: 1) женщины климактерического возраста; 2) депрессии или депрессивные симптомы; 3) климактерические нарушения. В реферативно-библиографической наукометрической базе Web of Science Core Collection по зарубежным журналам, в том числе с высоким импакт-фактором, выбрано 70 библиографических источников. Вошедшие в обзор исследования выполнены в университетских клиниках, специализированных центрах. Клинические и социально-демографические характеристики отвечают критерию сопоставимости. Большинство работ посвящено изучению клинических и социально-психологических факторов развития климактерической депрессии (КД). В ряде работ показана эффективность антидепрессивной терапии, альтернативных методов, дополнительного лечения у женщин с депрессивными расстройствами, климактерическими нарушениями и сопутствующими соматическими заболеваниями. Преобладают исследования, выполненные с привлечением анкетного опроса (социально-демографические данные, анамнез) и международных клинических шкал. Основные результаты обсуждаемых статей изложены в тематических рубриках.Заключение. С большей частотой встречаются европейские и американские работы, реже – из стран Азии. Публикации отражают мировую тенденцию к росту КД в женской популяции с наличием в анамнезе депрессии подростковой и послеродовой, предменструального синдрома. Отмечаются низкая своевременная диагностика депрессий, высокая встречаемость соматизированной КД. В структуре климактерического синдрома психоэмоциональные нарушения преобладают над нейровегетативными и обменно-эндокринными либо сочетаются с вегетативной дисфункцией. В формировании КД участвуют нейрогормональные, генетические, биохимические, социально-средовые, психологические факторы. При КД описаны угнетенное настроение, утрата жизненных приоритетов, снижение работоспособности и концентрации внимания, незащищенность, несамостоятельность, неуверенность, самоуничижение, раскаяние, неверие в будущее, инсомнии, гипо- и гиперрексия, но отсутствуют публикации по суицидальной настроенности. КД может протекать с истеро- и нозофобическим, соматоипохондрическим или астеноневротическим компонентом. Соматизация как переживание климактерического стресса приводит к соматизированной КД с акцентом на соматические симптомы и вытеснением депрессии и тревоги, хотя не описано ассоциированности конкретных соматических нозологий с КД. Обсуждается связь КД с социально-средовыми факторами (пол, образование, профессия, положение, финансовая состоятельность). Интерес авторов в развитии КД вызывает поиск генетических маркеров, нарушения нейромедиаторного обмена, нейроморфологические изменения в сенсомоторной коре головного мозга, гормональные и психонейроиммунологические нарушения. Психофармакотерапия при КД учитывает депрессивную симптоматику (антидепрессанты активизирующего и (или) седативного действия в длительном режиме), сопутствующие заболевания (патогенетическая и иммунотерапия, заместительная гормонотерапия эстрогеном, прогестероном). Обсуждается альтернативное лечение КД. Для повышения эффективности и безопасности лечения КД предлагается научение распознаванию признаков КД самих пациентов, медицинских работников, психологов, социальных работников.

Mode of socio-economic development and occupational structure: the case of contemporary Russia

The given paper assumes the existence of a correlation between the occupational structure and the mode of social and economic development of a country. It is shown that the modern stage of development in advanced economies could be described by the post-industrial phase with (a) the specific proportions in the occupational structure (predominance of professional managers and technical experts); (b) particular nature of work and the corresponding extent of labor division according to specialization and qualification (highly skilled labor with broad specialization and a new criterion of creativity included within qualifications). Within the certain historical framework these indicators, combined onto the entire scheme, produce the criteria to distinct different types of socio-economic development and arrange them in consistent order. The analysis of occupational structure of Russian population shows that the reforms of 1990s have facilitated the process of deindustrialization alongside with the growth of semi- and low-skilled jobs. According to the scheme, Russia seems to have reached the stage of the development that is similar to one of the 1950–1960s in the USA and the Europe

Mobile-Learning Platform for the Development of Entrepreneurial Competences of the Students

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of using a mobile learning platform for students’ entrepreneurial competence improvement. The platform was implemented by the Russian State Vocational Pedagogical University and the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation. It allowed users to publish assignments, exchange ideas, generate photo and video content, demonstrate creative developments, and receive feedback. The research process enrolled 70 experimental group students, 25 control group students, 2 instructors, and 2 administrators from the considered educational institutions, as well as 3 practitioners invited to review projects. As a result of this examination (Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.678 to 0.714), it was noted that 41.4% of all research participants rather agreed that the experiment goals were accomplished and noted personal progress in mastering entrepreneurial competences, whereas 53.4% agreed unequivocally that the experiment was fully successful. Analysis of entrepreneurial competences and deviations from repeated competence evaluations before and after the experiment revealed that the experimental group was marked with notable progress (F (1.32) 2 = 42.26, p = 0.00, ?p = 0.56). Average entrepreneurial competence assessment results for this group were slightly higher than those for control – they constituted 4.5 points against 4.0. Research findings are believed to be universal and interesting to educators and administrative staff of educational institutions or those involved in creating and conducting entrepreneurship training courses. © 202

Depressive disorders in women of climacteric age (review of foreign literature for 2012–2016)

Objective: to systematically review foreign literature and interpret results of the review. Tasks: to review foreign papers where factors are considered which provoke development of depression: hormonal, psychological, social as well as neuromediators, hormonal and immune disturbances in depressive disorders in women with physiological climacteric and climacteric syndrome; issues of differential diagnostics of depressions, psychopharmaco- and psychotherapy with subsequent evaluation of clinical efficiency; personality profile of pateints with affective psychopathology.Methods of search: by keywords in Web of Science Core Collection database across foreign journals (2012– 2016). Criteria of inclusion of papers in the review are determined by themes of studies: 1) women of climacteric age; 2) presence of depression or depressive symptoms; 3) presence of climacteric disturbances. In the abstract-bibliographic and scientometric database Web of Science Core Collection 70 bibliographic sources are selected across foreign journals between 2012 and 2016, including journals with high Impact Factor. Studies included in the review are performed at the university clinics, specialized centers. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of female patients meet the criterion of compatibility. Most discussed papers are devoted to study of clinical and social-psychological factors of development of climacteric depression. In a number of papers the efficiency of antidepressant therapy, alternative methods and supplementary therapy in women with depressive disorders, climacteric disturbances and co-occurring physical diseases is shown. Most works are performed with involvement of questionnaires (sociodemographic data, anamnesis) and international clinical scales. The main results of the discussed papers are outlined in thematic rubrics.Conclusion. The European and American papers are used in this review more frequently; studies from Asian countries are used more seldom. Reviewed foreign publications reflect worldwide trend to increase of climacteric depression (CD) in the female population with presence in the anamnesis of adolescent (psychoendocrine alteration) and postpartum depression, premenstrual syndrome. Low timely diagnostics of depressions, high incidence rate of somaticized CD are noted. In the structure of climacteric syndrome the psychoemotional disturbances predominate above neurovegetative and metabolic-endocrine or are combined with vegetative dysfunction. The participation in formation of CD (with predominance of mild/moderate severity) of neurohormonal, genetic, biochemical, social-environmental, psychological factors is shown. In the reviewed sources low mood, loss of previous priorities, decrease of productivity and concentration of attention, position of being unprotected, dependence, lack of confidence, self-humiliation, repentance, unbelief in future, insomnias, hypo-/hyperrexia with change of body mass are described in CD but there are no publications on suicidal ideation. It is indicated that CD can flow with hysteric- and nosophobic, somatohypochondriac and asthenohypochondriac component. The authors consider that somatization as an experience of climacteric stress leads to somaticized CD with accent on physical symptoms and repression of depression and anxiety although an association of specific somatic nosologies with symptoms of CD is not described. The association of CD with social-environmental factors (gender, education, profession, social position, financial wealth) is discussed, achievement of the woman is considered as a actor of reduction of CD risk. The authors are highly interested in search for genetic markers (heredity, suicides in relatives), impairment of neuromediator exchange (neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline), neuromorphologic alterations in brain sensorimotor cortex (motor function, attention, perception, memory, and emotional-motivational response), hormonal disturbances (neuroendocrine and metabolic) and psychoneuroimmunological patterns of association with CD. Psychopharmacotherapy in CD is constructed with account for depressive symptoms (antidepressants of activating/sedative action in long-term maintenance regime), background and co-occurring diseases (adequate and pathogenetic and immunotherapy) with involvement in case of absence of contraindications of substitutive hormonotherapy (estrogen, progesterone). Beyond conventional schemes of the therapy the alternative therapy of CD (acupuncture, yoga, phytoestrogen collections, and food additives) is discussed. For heightening the efficiency and safety of the therapy of CD the training in detection of CD signs both for female patients and nurses, psychologists, social workers is proposed

Intergenerational earnings mobility in Post‐Soviet Russia

We make use of longitudinal data for the Russian economy over 1994–2016 to obtain earnings information about parents and children. We show that rank correlations give reliable estimates, and find intergenerational correlations for sons and daughters that are comparable to those found in the USA and the UK. Sons earn more than daughters conditional on education and parents’ rank. Observable household characteristics and unobservables contribute about the same to the correlations, both more than education

Influence of Tularemia Microbe of Different Subspecies on the Functional Activity of Immunocompetent Cells of Experimental Animals

Analysis of molecular-biological mechanisms of patho-, immuno- and morphogenesis allowed to determine the role of bactericidal mechanisms (oxygen-, nitroxide-related and oxygen-free) of tularemia microbe phagocytosis by immunophagocytic system cells. Using PCR with primers pdpD-1F, pdpD-1R, pdpA 1, pdpA2 it was shown that the structure of pathogenicity islands (FPI) in F. tularensis strains of different subspecies depended upon what subspecies the strain belonged to, and was probably associated with tularemia microbe virulence. The macroorganism reaction to the introduction of tularemia microbe of different subspecies was evaluated. The obtained data were of prognostic significance for characterization of infectious process course and for the development of criteria for lymphoid organs response in pathologic and adaptive processes