One of the factors negatively affecting management effectiveness in decentralized autonomous organizations is implicit centralization of decision-making within a certain group of participants. Such centralization can be caused by both economic reasons related to uneven distribution of voting power and information and social ones related to participants’ status and control over information. The decision-making process in decentralized autonomous organizations has been analyzed in a situation when participants face information asymmetry, strategic behavior, and lack of centralized control. The principal–agent model has been considered as a formal basis, in which tokens’ holders act as the principal and project initiator, who forms an offer of a certain quality, as the agent. 
The conditions under which it is possible to form an equilibrium that ensures high-quality projects choice have been investigated. Incentive mechanisms have been proposed to ensure the interest in the principal’s participation in managing organization. Two directions have been considered: changing the agent’s remuneration structure based on payments differentiation and participation costs compensation for the principal. It has been demonstrated that minimal institutional changes can significantly improve organization’s management effectiveness, while maintaining decentralized nature of decision-making.

The article examines the problem of methodology for the development and implementation of digital educational content (hereinafter referred to as DEC) for additional professional education (hereinafter referred to as APE) for adults in order to determine its optimal digital, psychodidactic structure and methodological tools for the interaction of the main subjects of the  educational programme using the example of the educational and methodological centre for APE of the All-Russia Scientific and Research Institute for Irrigation and Farming Water Supply Systems “Raduga”. Research methods: scientific and practical analysis, development andsystematisation of DEC components, study of practical experience and results of DEC testing under an additional professional programme (hereinafter referred to as APP) for the period  2023–2024, logical and situational analysis, processing and generalisation of the results. The novelty of the research: the content of the concepts “educational programme for APE” and DEC is specified; for the first time, the concept of DEC for adult APE is formulated with the definition of its purpose and fundamental differences; for the first time, the structu ral components of DEC according to the APE programme have been identified and meaningfully presented, taking into account the psychodidactic features of learning in the digital educational environment (hereinafter referred to as DEE), contributing to the self-development of a personality in professional activity by means of DEE. As a result of the study, the structural and substantive features of the DEC for APE for adults are revealed; the psychodidactic, information technology, socio-psychological, and industry- specific characteristics of DEC and methods (synchronous and asynchronous) of purposeful interaction of the main subjects of APE contributing to continuous professional training and self-development of an adult’s personality in the conditions of DEE are determined.

The relevance of the chosen topic of this study is due to the fact that today more and more organisations, regardless of their type of activity, use methods and approaches of project management to achieve their goals. The key to successful project implementation are a qualified project manager and their team. However, project management in different industries may require different tools, skills, and abilities. The scientific novelty of this article lies in the fact that despite the abundance of literature on the topic of project management, there are relatively few works devoted to their analysis in terms of differences in competence requirements in the public and commercial sectors. The purpose of this study, based on the analysis of standards and scientific literature, is to identify the necessary competencies of the project manager, their potential differences and similarities in commercial and government organisations. The competencies are divided into professional, personal, and applied ones. The results obtained streamline and deepen the theoretical understanding of the required competencies of the project manager based on the field of activity of the organisation. 
The results of the research can be used in the development of local (corporate) standards for project management, in the formation of training programmes for project managers and in recruitment of personnel.

Digitalisation of human resources (hereinafter referred to as HR) analytics can become a key factor in the innovative development of companies in a dynamically developing competitive environment, but there are no systemic vision and understanding of the essence and mechanisms of functioning of digital HR analytics systems, no ways and methods of their integration into real business processes. The purposes of the article are a comprehensive study of the role of digitalisation in the process under study, innovative approaches to personnel management, the development of a comprehensive scheme for assessing the effectiveness of digital HR analytics systems, and the proposal approaches to data visualisation that facilitate the adoption of informed management decisions. The key technologies necessary for the implementation of digital HR analytics and the problems that arise, such as data fragmentation and lack of qualified specialists, are described. Successful cases of using digital HR analytics to improve the efficiency of personnel management are considered, including the experience of Google. It is shown that digitalisation of HR analytics is a powerful tool for qualitatively improving personnel management processes and increasing the level of management decisions. Future research directions should be aimed at expanding the capabilities of artificial intelligence, strengthening the human-centric approach and adapting to new work formats to achieve greater efficiency of HR processes.

The article is devoted to the study of the features associated with the integration of environmentally friendly technologies in the field of business processes in the form of tools for the sustainable development of the economy. The purpose of this study is to identify key issues and analyse the specifics of introducing environmentally friendly technologies into corporate strategies. The methodology of the conducted research is expressed in the application of an integrated approach based on the analysis of cases of successful organisations, statistical data on the launch of environmental innovations and expert interviews with business representatives. The key results of the analysis of the main barriers associated with the integration of environmentally friendly innovations into business processes demonstrate the presence of high initial costs, a shortage of specialists with qualifications to work with green tehnologies and a lack of incentive programmes from the state. However, at the same time, the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies enhances competitiveness, reduces costs and strengthens the company’s business reputation. The scope of the results involves the development of a number of sustainable strategies for organisations in various industries as well as the development of recommendations for public authorities specialising in supporting environmental initiatives. The research aims at a more detailed analysis of the impact of environmental innovations on the financial stability of companies in the long term. The findings indicate the need to consider a comprehensive approach to the integration of environmental solutions based on cooperation between representatives of business, government and society as a whole in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

The article considers the interaction of the state represented by regional authorities, scientific and business organisations as a key factor in the development of the innovation environment and the formation of an intellectual property management system in the region. According to the authors, the state effectively supports the scientific and technical development of the regions in the modern conditions of an innovation economic environment. Although the interests of different economic entities may vary significantly. A key factor in innovative development and enhanced mechanisms of intellectual property management is to increase the effectiveness of interaction between the state, scientific and business organisations, taking into account the socio-economic needs of modern society. The authors have identified the main beneficiaries of the formation and functioning of the intellectual property management system in the region, the conditions determining its development, have systematised the key issues requiring solutions to form an intellectual property market in the region, have substantiated the relevance of raising the awareness of innovation entities about economic growth and capitalisation as a result of the creation, protection and use of the achievements of intellectual activity in civil circulation. The formation and growth of the intellectual property market as a necessary condition for the development of an innovative env ironment should be ensured by measures of legal and organisational- economic support from regional authorities. The article indicates the key issues that require solutions in this area.

The article is devoted to the assessment of the competitiveness dependence of oil and gas companies on human capital in the context of introduction of artificial intelligence (hereinafter referred to as AI). The research subject is the integration of human capital and digital technologies into the production and management processes of the oil and gas complex. The purpose of the study is to identify patterns of the influence of the interaction of technological innovations and human capital on the efficiency and compe titiveness of industrial production in the oil and gas complex. The methodological base includes a structural and functional approach, comparison of the categories “human capital” and “human factor”, analysis of regulatory documents on ergonomics and reliability of human-machine systems, content analysis of scientific and analytical sources and generalisation of industry empirical data. It has been established that the development of AI increases the requirements for personnel training and forms the dependence of the effectiveness of digital solutions on the quality of human capital. It is revealed that the lack of competencies hinders the introduction of AI and increases technolo gical and organisational risks. Industry cases of Russian companies demonstrate that intelligent systems reduce costs and increase productivity with a well-developed training and retraining infrastructure. It has been established that competitive advantages are provided not only and not so much by technology, but by the development of competencies and corporate expertise centres. It is shown that human capital and the human factor act as a single whole, forming the potential and effectiveness of human-machine systems. The prospects for further research are related to the development of quantitative models for assessing the contribution of human capital to the economic effects of digital transformation and the analysis of personnel training and retraining systems.

The purpose of this article is to analyse the current state, problems, and prospects of the halal industry in Russian regions using the example of the Republic of Bashkortostan (hereinafter referred to as RB). The authors provide an overview of current trends in the development of production and consumption of halal products and services in the world and in Russia, and highlight the problems of their certification in the subjects according to Russian Quality System standards and international halal standards. The article substantiates the need to realise at the federal level the strategy for the halal industry development in the Russian regions until 2050 and a separate regional target programme for the development of production and export of halal products in the RB for the period up to 2035, which will contribute to full satisfaction of the population’s demand for environ
mentally friendly products and healthy functional nutrition as well as comprehensive support for local producers of halal products and services, and increase in their income. In today’s difficult geopolitical and economic conditions, taking into account the annual, stable (5–15% per year) growth in demand in the world and in Russia for halal products as environmentally friendly, the comprehensive development of the halal industry, in particular, through integrating and cooperating of producers, combining them into agricultural clusters at the municipal, regional and federal levels, is considered as one of the strategically promising growth points of the economy of multinational regions of the country.

Such a phenomenon in the catering market as food terrorism as well as its classification and impact on management processes have been described. 
The subject of the research are unfair consumer behaviour, goals and methods of manipulation of restaurant managers. A survey of experts working in different Russian regions allows us to estimate the average amount of damage to restaurants from actions of food terrorists and describe risks that businesses face in this sphere. The authors of the article propose a methodology that allows to calculate losses from consumer terrorism depending on the restaurant’s traffic and revenue. The main direction for managing this process among managers of the catering industry is to better and more thoroughly study the legislation in the relevant field, apply tools to prevention problems, and review approaches to customer behaviour management processes. As recommendations, the authors propose an algorithm for dealing with claims. based on studying the legal framework and the opinion of practitioners, that allows restaurant managers to respond effectively to such situations. Received from dishonest guests, developed taking into account the opinions of experts working in this field and familiar with the problems existing in this area. These results are relevant for entrepreneurs seeking to minimise the risks and losses caused by unscrupulous consumers. The prospects of the study are further in-depth analysis and development of recommendations to strengthen business protection in the context of the growing influence of consumer terrorism.

Key aspects of increasing competitiveness in the agro-industrial complex based on various theoretical approaches and analysis methods have been studied. Particular attention has been paid to the advantages that enterprises can achieve compared to competitors. The study is based on A. Marshall’s equilibrium theory, emphasizing the importance of balance between supply and demand in the agricultural sector. Attention has also been focused on manufactured products quality as a fundamental factor influencing competitiveness. The study uses matrix, structural, and functional approaches for a comprehensive analysis 
of enterprises’ competitive positions. The matrix approach allows to visualize and evaluate various aspects of competitiveness, while the structural approach helps identify internal and external factors influencing the agro-industrial complex efficiency. The functional approach focuses on the key processes and functions necessary to achieve sustainable development and increase competitiveness. The study offers a system analysis and practical recommendations for increasing competitiveness in agro-industrial enterprises, which is a pressing task in the conditions of the modern market. The study results can be useful for both scientists and practitioners seeking to improve the positions of their organizations in the conditions of growing competition. 

A comprehensive study of the role of information and digital technologies in business process management (hereinafter referred to as BPM) has been considered in the context of the evolution and development of the BPM concept and its integration into the organisational and economic mechanism of balanced development of regional socio-economic systems (hereinafter referred to RSES). It is emphasised that digitalisation of process management in modern conditions becomes an integral element of strategic regional governance, enabling coordination of actions among all participants, prompt response to changes in the external environment, and the creation of conditions for sustainable growth. The paper substantiates the legitimacy, relevance, and practical necessity of applying BPM systems in the management of RSES, with particular attention to their functionality for automation, modelling, optimisation, and real-time monitoring of business processes. The key features of BPM systems as tools for the digital transformation of regional management are revealed: ensuring transparency of administrative procedures, reducing costs, increasing adaptability to economic and social challenges, and forming a unified information space for interaction between authorities, businesses, and the public. Special attention is given to current trends in BPM technology development, including process hyperautomation, the implementation of next- generation electronic document management systems, the integration of enterprise resource planning platforms, and the transition to comprehensive BPMS (business process management system) solutions that provide end-to-end lifecycle management of processes. The role of the Six Sigma methodology 
in ensuring high quality and predictability of business processes is considered along with opportunities to combine the process approach with artificial intelligence tools and big data analytics.

Current trends in scientific, technicalб and innovative development, expenditures of world leaders and EEU member states on research and development (as a percentage of gross domestic product), innovative activity of countries based on the Global Innovation Index (GII-2025), ranked places, trends in cluster development, attraction to innovation, universities developments, and the measures taken by the GII-2025 leaders to realize the innovative potential have been considered. Examples of the situation that escalated in 2025 and competition in one of the promising areas of the new technological order, including the areas of scientific and technological development implemented by the EEU member states, which lead to disruption of the supply chains of high-tech goods, have been studied. The priorities of scientific and technical development of the EEU member states and the regulatory framework for 2024–2025 in science have been analyzed. The directions of scientific and technical cooperation of the EEU member states for the future have been determined. As a mechanism for the states joint development in science (including responding to common challenges facing the countries), it has been proposed to implement the measures provided for in the program of scientific and technical development adopted within the framework of the EEU.

The article considers the current state of foreign economic activity of the Kirov region and suggests ways to solve the problems of foreign trade turnover reduction. The article analyses the dynamics of foreign trade turnover, changes in the geographical structure of exports and imports of the regional products, the commodity structure of exports represented by non-resource non-energy products. We pay special attention to the enterprises that operate in the industries and export non-resource non-energy products. Among them are the leading manufacturers that demonstrate sustainable development under the sanctions pressure. In order to increase the foreign economic potential of the Kirov region in the world market, it is necessary to properly build a development strategy. Foreign economic activity is an integral part of economic growth of any subject. In recent years, the regional foreign economic activity faces problems that affect export and import positions. There is a need to adapt the regional foreign economic policy to the new conditions of effective management of trade flows. Successful adaptation to these changes will create conditions for maintaining economic stability and development in the long term. The implementation of the proposed measures will allow Kirov region not only to restore its position in foreign markets, but also to reach new levels of economic growth.

The article presents a comprehensive study of the essence of the modern theory of innovation-based modernisation, emphasising the need for a theoretical and methodological reassessment and clarification of its conceptual foundations. The author analyses the evolution of modernisation concepts, highlighting the main approaches to its interpretation within socio-economic and institutional contexts. Special attention is given to the critique of universalist models of modernisation, which assume linear and uniform development trajectories, and the rationale for transitioning to more flexible strategies that take into account national, regional, and historical-cultural specificities. Various types of modernisation processes are examined – ranging from loca lised, fragmented modernisation to a comprehensive systemic transformation – with an exploration of their connection to strategic priorities of socio- economic development. Both long-term structural changes and short-term tactical measures aimed at stimulating innovation activity are analysed. The article pays particular attention to the role of the state as a key actor in the modernisation process, capable of compensating for institutional and market dysfunctions. The insufficiency of purely market-based mechanisms for the effective dissemination and adoption of innovations is substantiated, necessitating active state policy in the sphere of scientific and technological development, the technological renewal of core economic sectors, and the creation of a supportive innovation infrastructure.

The issues of tax expense management in Russia have been identified, and proposals have been developed to improve their effectiveness. The theoretical aspects of tax expenditures have been investigated, the current practice of their management has been analyzed, and the existing difficulties have been identified. Tax expenditures are one of the fiscal policy instruments that can be used to provide financial support to households and organizations in achieving policy objectives. To achieve the goals of public policy, public authorities use a wide range of strategies. Tax incentives are an important part of the budget policy toolkit. Special attention has been paid to the issues of classification and the role of tax expenditures in the public administration system. An analysis of modern Russian practice has shown a number of shortcomings, such as the lack of a unified methodology for accounting and evaluating tax be nefits, weak control over their effectiveness, and a lack of systematic information. Based on the results obtained, proposals have been formulated to improve the tax expense management system. These include uniform criteria development for evaluating their effectiveness, increased control by government agencies, and automated monitoring systems implementation. The presented conclusions and recommendations can contribute to optimizing tax policy and improving the effectiveness of budget expenditures in Russia.

Tax administration is a system of state management of the tax process with the purpose of building certain relations between the state, represented by tax authorities, and taxpayers in order to improve the efficiency of the tax system. The subject of tax administration is tax production, the object is the process of managing tax production, the subject is tax administrations. The mains task of tax administration are to regulate economic processes and legal relationships in the field of taxes and fees in order to achieve an optimal ratio of fiscal and distribution functions of taxes at minimal costs, to meet the state’s financial needs with a reasonable burden on the taxpayer, to stimulate honest payment of taxes than tax evasion. This is the relevance of the research topic. The purpose of the research is to study the mechanism and methods of tax administration used by tax authorities in their activities. The objectives of the study are to analyse the effectiveness of tax administration methods, their compliance with current legislation, and to develop proposals for their improvement. The following methods are used: analysis and synthesis, grouping, generalisation, the tabular method, etc. The information base of the study is the tax and budget legislation, official data of the Federal State Statistics Service, reports of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation. In order to ensure the validity of the conclusions and proposals, we provide arbitration practice of dispute resolution. The practical significance of the study is that its results can be used in the practical activities of regulatory authorities as well as in further research on the topic under study.

The study, the results of which are summarised in this article, is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and essential characteristics of the tax 
system of the Soviet Union as a unique historical and economic phenomenon. The tax system is considered by the authors as a key element of the state’s financial relations, which underwent radical transformations throughout the XX century in the context of changing socio-economic formations and political regimes. 
The study is based on a retrospective analysis of the development stages of the Soviet tax system, closely correlating with the main periods of the state’s history, 
and aims to identify the common features of the Soviet tax model, trace its periodisation, and analyse the specifics of taxation in individual union republics, taking into account scientific approaches to the study of the Soviet financial history. The example of the tax system confirms the thesis about the deep interconnection of the development stages of the Soviet state and the transformation of its fiscal mechanisms. The article contributes to the understanding of the tax system as a complex, evolving institution which structure and functions are determined by external socio-economic and political environment, confirming the key postulates of the institutional approach. The conclusions formulated by the authors that the tax system of the USSR evolved from the denial of taxes to the creation of a unique centralised model, deeply integrated into the planned-administrative economy and based on the direct withdrawal of income from the state sector, which fundamentally distinguished it from classical market-type tax systems, are distinguished by their scientific novelty. For the first time, on the basis of a comprehensive analysis, the fundamental, system-forming features of the tax system of the Soviet state are formulated and substantiated.

The regulatory challenges of commercial bank loyalty programs in Russia from a consumer perspective have been analyzed. The need for government intervention in the payments sector has been substantiated. The research methodology includes statistical, comparative, and correlation-regression analysis, a survey, and mathematical modeling. The study results reveal a paradox: despite the growth of cashback payments, overall customer loyalty has not increased, while the share of neutral customers is growing, indicating the payment card market saturation and the ineffectiveness of loyalty programs as a tool for attracting new custo mers. Unscrupulous banking practices (miscoding and unilateral changes to terms) and destructive customer behavior patterns (hobbyism and excessive lending), exacerbated by regulatory gaps, have been identified. The proposed solutions include legislatively enshrining the cashback definition, adding loyalty programs within the scope of behavioral supervision of the Bank of Russia, and using the All-Russian Classifier of Products by Type of Economic Activity instead of the All-Russian Classifier of Types of Economic Activity to combat miscoding. To neutralize behavioral factors when choosing programs, the authors developed and validated a model for calculating an effective cashback rate, implemented as a Python program, and proposed using it as a basis for applying a modified ten-second rule to make informed financial decisions.

The transformation of payment and settlement relations between Russia and China has been studied in the context of sanctions pressure and the desire to reduce dependence on the US dollar. The main focus is on the key challenges analysis: national currency exchange rates volatility, low liquidity of the yuan, and technological vulnerability due to the use of Western payment systems. The prospects of creating a new reserve currency within the framework of the BRICS as a tool for diversifying the global financial architecture have been considered. The methodology includes structural modeling, meta-analysis of academic research, regression analysis of International Monetary Fund data, and predictive modeling. A three-stage model for implementing a new reserve currency has been proposed, from developing a bilateral unit of account (yuan–ruble) to integrating digital currencies (e-CNY, digital ruble) on a blockchain platform. Special emphasis has been placed on technological solutions such as atomic swaps and quantum-resistant cryptography to reduce transaction costs and counter sanctions. Risks have been identified, including macroeconomic imbalances due to China’s dominance in the currency basket and the threat of cyber-attacks. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the synthesis of the currency choice theory, empirical data on Russian-Chinese trade, and long-term forecasts that form the basis for the transition to a polycentric financial system. The practical recommendations are aimed at harmonizing the regulatory framework, expanding the liquidity of the yuan and coordinating the actions of the BRICS countries. The study results demonstrate the new reserve currency potential to strengthen economic sovereignty and reduce geopolitical risks. The study may be useful for regulators, financial institutions, and businesses involved in projects on de- dollarization and cross-border settlement systems development in the context of geopolitical turbulence.

This article investigates the impact of non-standard (atypical) employment on the career trajectories of young people in the Russian Federation amid ongoing transformations in the labour market. The analysis focuses on the prevalence of key forms of atypical employment, including freelancing, self-employment, temporary work, informal jobs, and platform-based labour. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining theoretical analysis with empirical data drawn from nationwide sociological surveys: Comprehensive monitoring of living conditions of the population, Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics, and ot hers. The findings indicate that youth are among the most engaged in atypical employment – particularly freelancing – which has become relatively widespread across the country. At the same time, non-standard employment has an ambivalent effect on career strategies of young people: while it offers new opportunities for professional mobility and self-realisation, it also increases instability and social vulnerability. The study shows that Russian youth potentially combine traditional and emerging career models. Some deliberately pursue flexible strategies oriented toward autonomy and adaptability, while others prefer conventional employment paths that emphasise stability and predictability. These insights may inform policy efforts aimed at supporting youth adaptation to evolving labour market conditions and strengthening employment regulation frameworks.

The article considers issues related to the analysis of the role and place of information support for the process of social management. The purpose of the study is to analyse the methodological approaches used in social management of public consciousness and the provision of control influence, in particular, through information coding, on the population to motivate them to be active. It has been found that, in terms of the content, the information code and this coding, being the main part of socially oriented communications and human socialisation in general, can be characterised as a social code and social coding. It has been established that, being one of the connecting elements of social relations, the social code as an information-mental category is inherent only in controlled systems that are characterised by signal-information causality between those who generate the code and those to whom it is addressed. The presence of connection between the problematic under consideration and other theories devoted to the analysis of the emergence causes, development and functioning of society has been determined. With regard to the Russian Federation, in the current political, socio-economic and demographic conditions, it is necessary to develop a social code (national idea), which should not only be understandable to the population, but should also motivate them to engage in positively oriented activities to achieve socially significant goals for Russian society.

The article presents the results of a theoretical analysis of the scientific prerequisites for an empirical study of predictors of effective social interaction between buyers of housing under construction and the developer. It provides definitions of the basic concepts of social interaction and effective social interaction in relation to this topic; presents the results of an analysis of foreign and domestic publications in which this topic was addressed as well as reveals the scientific approaches in which it was studied. Based on the analysis of modern scientific developments by domestic and foreign authors, a set of objective predictors (gender, age, number of family members, level of education, employment and citizenship of the buyer; the presence/absence of a mortgage, the area of the purchased housing and its quality) and subjective factors (the image of the developer in the buyer’s perception; the client’s social interaction with the developer; business communication style, trust, social frustration of the buyer; their style of behaviour in conflict situations, social optimism and social activity), presumably responsible for effective social interaction between buyers of housing under construction and the developer, have been determined. A model of empirical research of their totality has been proposed, which meets the need to optimise the processes of social interaction in the field of shared equity construction.

The prospects of the management education model transformation in the course of AI development have been considered. The purpose of the study is to identify ways to adapt educational programs to the modern labor market requirements and technological changes. This line of work has been identified due to the understanding of the need to integrate AI-related topics into curricula in order to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful career within the framework of searching for solutions to implementing interactive and practice-oriented teaching methods. The methodology includes existing educational practices analysis and surveys among students of management specialties, professors of the State University of Management and the Academy of Management and Production, and interviews with business representatives. The main study results show that AI courses implementation, the use of interactive teaching methods, and critical thinking development can significantly improve the quality of management training. The study results scope covers higher education institutions and businesses, which helps to improve the interaction between them. The prospects of the research are to further explore the ethical and practical aspects of using AI in managing and developing new educational programs. The need for active adaptation of management education to the digital age challenges has been emphasized in order to train qualified specialists who are able to work effectively in a rapidly changing world

The article examines the features of vertical mobility of federal officials in the modern Russia. As part of the study, the authors analyse the career rate of the executive branch. Based on a database containing 419 biographies of ministers and deputy ministers, individual trajectories of advancement to the top of the administrative hierarchy are analysed. The study considers the factors determining the speed of a career, among them a significant role is played by the generation to which the elite belong, their place of birth, profile and region of education, belonging to one of the departmental blocks. The researchers propose a typology of career paths depending on the speed of promotion: high-speed, medium-speed and low-speed. Statistical methods are used to find correlations between them and the sociodemographic characteristics of officials. During the analysis, it has been found that representatives of the 1970s and 1980s reach high positions faster than their predecessors. To a large extent, the speed of the rise in the establishment is influenced by the choice of department. The nature of the first higher education plays an important role. The authors conclude that in the modern Russia there are stable mechanisms for the renewal of the political elite.

Social orphanhood concept and causes, approaches and types of its prevention as a factor in ensuring sustainable family dynamics have been studied. The relevance of the issue of social orphanhood, which is a family’s reaction to new life circumstances and its disadvantage, has been revealed. The negative changes taking place in modern families have been shown: insufficient care for children, conditions incompatible with child upbringing, and manifestations of cruelty and violence against children. Social orphanhood is a stable phenomenon of human existence and social life. In Russia over the past 10 years, there has been a decrease in the total number of orphaned children as a result of a decrease in cases of deprivation and restriction of parental rights and, in general, in the number of children in Russia. According to the study results, a difficult situation has developed in the Far Eastern regions of Russia, and the situation with orphanhood is better in the North Caucasus Federal District. Most orphaned children have health problems. The importance of the social orphanhood prevention system, the need for effective monitoring and further support of families, and “tracking the fate” of an orphaned child have been emphasized. The following recommendations have been proposed: allocating specialized vehicles for conducting preventive raids on families at risk, including those living in remote settlements, hiring a psychologist to provide high-quality psychological support and effective rehabilitation work with families, and increasing salaries and prestige of the profession.

According to the Constitution Russia is a social state, the main purpose of which is to take care of its people. One of the areas of such care is social assistance to those in need. The state social policy should be based on traditional spiritual and moral values. The ideological basis of social work, aimed primarily at the welfare state implementation, has been analyzed. The historical past shows that the ideological basis of social work is born from church social service, which is based on Christian commandments. Church social service and social work, their interrelationships, similarities and differences, current state, and social partnership of the Russian Orthodox Church and the state in helping those in need have been studied. A theoretical analysis of the social service and social work concepts, their basic principles, as well as legal consolidation has been carried out. There is an ideological unity between church social service and state social work and a need for close cooperation between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church in such work.

The purpose of this study is to identify key trends in employee expectations and readiness to transition to reduced work hours. Based on the results of exploratory research conducted by the author, this article ana lyses the opportunities and desires of Russian labour market participants to reduce their work schedules. The results are interpreted by using a systems approach, general scientific methods, and factor analysis, which allows us to establish the dependence of employees’ choice or rejection of reduced schedules on various factors, ranging from gender and age to current work style and workload. Based on a previous analysis of regulatory acts pertaining to labour and employment, it is assumed that the implementation of a specific model of a short workweek is possible depending on current organisational labour conditions. Proposals are made for the application of various reduced work schedule options depending on the current organisation of work time and taking into account the characteristics of different categories of staff members. This research represents a logical continuation of the author’s series of articles devoted to reducing working hours. The results obtained may be useful for all participants in the labour market: government agencies, employers, and employees when considering the possibility of introducing a shortened work schedule or switching to various hybrid formats of flexible employment.