nep-cis New Economics Papers
on Confederation of Independent States
Issue of 2020‒02‒17
twenty papers chosen by



  1. The development of the legal ideal of constitutions and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  2. On the Question about Constitutions and Statutes of the Russian Federation Constituents By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  3. Influence of digitalization of management on optimization of the legal system (by the example of constitutions and charters of the Russian Federation subjects) By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  4. Regarding Unification of Constitutions and Regulations of the Russian Federation Constituents and Constitution of the Russian Federation in Local Government Matters By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  5. Constitutions and chapters of the subjects of the Russian Federation in modern realities By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  6. It's the Way People Move! Labour Migration as an Adjustment Device in Russia By Pastore, Francesco; Semerikova, Elena
  7. Constitutions and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation as acts of countering terrorism By Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира)
  8. Migration and Remittances in the Former Soviet Union Countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus : What Are the Long-Term Macroeconomic Consequences? By Brownbridge,Martin; Canagarajah,Sudharshan
  9. Can Local Participatory Programs Enhance Public Confidence : Insights from the Local Initiatives Support Program in Russia By Shulga,Ivan; Shilov,Lev; Sukhova,Anna; Pojarski,Peter Ivanov
  10. Does Job Change After Becoming A Pensioner Contribute To Maintaining Employment In Old Age? By Oxana Sinyavskaya; Anna Cherviakova; Elizaveta Gorvat
  11. The military budget, a less and less significant indicator of the useful national defense effort By Jacques Fontanel
  12. Evaluation Interim Report for the Georgia II Improving General Education Quality Project's School Rehabilitation and Training Activities By Ira Nichols-Barrer; Nicholas Ingwersen; Camila Fernandez; Elena Moroz; Matt Sloan
  13. The Latvian NDC Scheme : Success Under a Decreasing Labor Force By Palmer, Edward; Stabina,Sandra
  14. Rational Addiction and Time Consistency: An Empirical Test By Piccoli, Luca; Tiezzi, Silvia
  15. Improving Education Infrastructure and Training in Georgia By Ira Nichols-Barrer; Nicholas Ingwersen; Camila Fernandez; Elena Moroz; Matt Sloan
  16. “I Didn’t Know You Can’t Plan So Far Ahead”: Symbolic Logics Behind The Choice Of Vocational Education In Russia By Pavlenko S. Ekaterina
  17. Returns to Education in Azerbaijan : Some New Estimates By Garcia Moreno,Vicente A.; Patrinos,Harry Anthony
  18. Employment vs. Homestay and the Happiness of Women in the South Caucasus By Torosyan, Karine; Pignatti, Norberto
  19. What Employers Actually Want : Skills in Demand in Online Job Vacancies in Ukraine By Muller, Noël; Safir,Abla
  20. Matching Trainees’ Skills to Market Needs in Georgia: New Vocational Training Courses Show Early Promise (Evaluation Brief) By Evan Borkum; Irina Cheban; Camila Fernandez; Ira Nichols-Barrer

  1. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: In this article Malinenko analyzes legal regulation and prospects for improving constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents in order to develop their legal ideal. The subject of the research is the legal provisions contained in constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents. The object of the research is the social relations arising in the process of developing constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents as the sources of constitutional law. The aim of the research is to improve constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents through developing their legal ideal. The methodological basis of the research includes general research methods with the focus on the dialectical method of analysing legal and social phenomena. The author's contribution to the topic is the creation and development of the legal ideal of constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents. Constituents and statutes of Russia's member states need to be harmonized as a single regional constitutional law. According to the author, the fact that there is no constitutional doctrine on this matter creates gaps and legal collisions. The main research conclusions prove the need in creation of the legal ideal of constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents. The researcher also emphasizes the need in creation of so-called living constitutions that would adjust legal provisions to the reality. The novelty of the research is caused by the fact that this is the first research to analyze the concept of 'legal ideal' of constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents and to acknowledge their important role as well as to emphasize the need to improve them which would promote democratization of the legal state and society and develop particular recommendations.
    Keywords: local governance, state body, legal ideal, Russian Federation, subject, statute, constitutional, state, perfection, development trend
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012005&r=all
  2. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: In this research Malinenko carries out research to successfully issue and implement changes in the constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents taking into account Russia's national goals and strategic missions as these have been stated out by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The subject of the research is the legal provisions contained in the constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents. The object of the research is the social relations arising in the process of adopting and implementing changes to the constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents in terms of achieving national goals and strategic missions of Russia at the present stage. The aim of the research is to analyze the procedure for adopting and implementing these changes. The methodological basis of the research includes such methods as logical analysis, social experiment, and special research methods such as formal law and comparative law methods. The result of the research is the conclusion that constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents need changes in order to achieve objectives affecting the state and civil society as a whole. The researcher proves the need to strive for so-called legal ideal by amending constitutions and statutes of the Russian Federation constituents and adjusting them to political and economic realities and demands.
    Keywords: adoption procedure, development trends, strategic objectives, national goals, subject, statute, constitutional, state, Russian Federation, change
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012003&r=all
  3. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: Theoretical and practical aspects of optimization of constitutions and charters of the Russian Federation subjects are studied. Problems of adaptation of the Russian Federation legal system in the conditions of economic risks for the purpose of maintenance of economy development are revealed. The ideas of the annual Address of the President of the Russian Federation to the Federal Assembly are analyzed from the point of view of development of a single legal space for all Russian Federation subjects.
    Keywords: President, the Address, subject, constitution, charter, optimization, digitalization.
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012002&r=all
  4. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: In this article Malinenko carries out research that contributes to the reinforcement of local government based on the analysis of constitutions and regulations of the Russian Federation constituents. The subject of the research is the legal norms and provisions set forth by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, constitutions and regulations of the Russian Federation constituents, and their practical implementation. The object of the research is the social relations arising in the process of unification of constitutions and regulations of the Russian Federation constituents as well as Constitution of the Russian Federation in local government matters. The aim of the research is to analyze legal provisions that regulate local government in the Russian Federation. The methodological basis of the research includes general research methods, special attention is being paid to the dialectical method of analysis of state legal and social phenomena. The researcher has applied general research methods as well as formal law and comparative law methods. The result of the research is the classification of constitutions and regulations of the Russian Federation constituents that contribute to the development of local government trends. The novelty of the research is caused by the classification of constitutions and regulations of the Russian Federation constituents as well as emphasis on the need to unify these constituents and regulations regarding local government. According to the author, the classification offered may contribute to the development of municipal units in practice and provide tools of efficient development of municipal units including advanced development territories in the theory of constitutional law.
    Keywords: systematization, Russian Federation, subject, articles of association, constitutional, local government, trends, development, municipality, territory
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012004&r=all
  5. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: Constitutions and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation are considered as integral structural and functional elements of its legal system. Gaps and collisions of these documents are identified. It is noted that the current condition of the Russian state requires constant clarification of legal norms and, accordingly, amending the constitution and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation.
    Keywords: constitution, charters, subjects of the federation, constitutional doctrine.
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012001&r=all
  6. By: Pastore, Francesco (Università della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli); Semerikova, Elena (National Research University)
    Abstract: This paper aims to assess the role of migration as an adjustment mechanism device to favor convergence across states and regions of Russia. In contrast to previous studies, we use variations in the population of a region as a proxy of its net migration rate and apply spatial econometric methodology in order to distinguish the effect from the neighbouring regions. We provide descriptive statistical evidence showing that Russia has more/less/the same intense migration flows than the USA and EU. The econometric analysis shows that migration flows are sensitive to both regional income and regional unemployment differentials. Nonetheless, we find that internal migration is sensitive to regional unemployment and income differentials of neighbouring regions. Dependent on the welfare, pre- or after-crisis period, income in neighbouring regions can create out- or in-migration flows. The relatively high degree of internal mobility coupled with the low sensitivity of migration flows to the local unemployment rate of distant regions might explain why migration flows tends not to generate convergence, but rather divergence across Russian regions.
    Keywords: internal and international migration, adjustment mechanism, spatial econometrics, Russia
    JEL: F15 F22 J61 R23
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12901&r=all
  7. By: Malinenko, Elvira (Малиненко, Эльвира) (Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and and Public Administration)
    Abstract: The author conducts a comparative legal analysis of the constitutions and charters of the subjects of the Russian Federation in order to determine their significance as acts of countering terrorism
    Keywords: constitution, charter, subject of the Russian Federation, ideology, counter-terrorism
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:rnp:ppaper:012006&r=all
  8. By: Brownbridge,Martin; Canagarajah,Sudharshan
    Abstract: Armenia, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan have all experienced substantial out-migration of workers and an associated inflow of workers'remittances over the past two decades. These four countries have much higher human capital, as measured by the Human Capital Index, than is typical for countries with similar levels of per capita income, and this may enable migrant workers to exploit opportunities to work in economies where labor productivity is higher. The inflow of workers'remittances has had effects analogous to those of Dutch disease in the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, which have experienced a large rise in expenditure to output and the share of services in gross domestic product, appreciation of the Balassa-Samuelson adjusted real exchange rates, and poor trade performance. In Armenia and Georgia, where remittances are a smaller share of gross domestic product, the effects were much more muted and their trade performance was much better.
    Date: 2020–01–15
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9111&r=all
  9. By: Shulga,Ivan; Shilov,Lev; Sukhova,Anna; Pojarski,Peter Ivanov
    Abstract: This paper reviews the performance of the Russia Local Initiatives Support Program (LISP) as an instrument for directly addressing the needs of the population to access socioeconomic infrastructure, for increasing public confidence in self-governance frameworks and institutions through dialogue and community budgeting consultations, and for strengthening the capacity for local self-governance. The paper does this by looking at historical and survey data from the implementation of the LISP methodology as part of regional programs in Russia.
    Keywords: Public Finance Decentralization and Poverty Reduction,Public Sector Economics,Public Financial Management,Small Private Water Supply Providers,Water Supply and Sanitation Economics,Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Water and Human Health,Social Accountability,Regional Governance,Local Government,Educational Sciences,Inequality
    Date: 2019–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:137448&r=all
  10. By: Oxana Sinyavskaya (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Anna Cherviakova (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Elizaveta Gorvat (National Research University Higher School of Economics)
    Abstract: This research explores the relation between labor mobility in pre-retirement and retirement ages and further employment in old age in Russia. Older workers often face the challenge of keeping their job due to impaired health, age discrimination, and other factors. Job change can be a potential strategy to maintain employment in old age. Our study uses panel data of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE) for 2010–2017. Logistic regression models show that labor mobility can be an effective strategy to maintain employment in old age but only for men. Older workers are more likely to change their job if they do not have stable employment relationships and are not satisfied with their current job.
    Keywords: older people, pensioners, employment in old age, labor mobility
    JEL: Z
    Date: 2020
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:25/psp/2020&r=all
  11. By: Jacques Fontanel (CESICE - Centre d'études sur la sécurité internationale et les coopérations européennes - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes)
    Abstract: The military budget is often presented as the main indicator of a country's national security effort. The contents and comparison of state military spending are not definitely conceptualized, and national budgets are homogeneous neither in time nor in space. The NATO and SIPRI date are interesting, with some large approximations for great power such as China or Russia. It is often difficult to understand the military or civilian nature of a threat and new potential weapons against the security of a country are not included in the military budgets, such as economic war or cyber-attacks.
    Keywords: UNODA,economic war,Military expenditure,Military budget,NATO,SIPRI,cyber-war
    Date: 2019
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02422300&r=all
  12. By: Ira Nichols-Barrer; Nicholas Ingwersen; Camila Fernandez; Elena Moroz; Matt Sloan
    Abstract: This interim report describes a preliminary set of evaluation findings on the school rehabilitation activity and the training activity for teachers and school directors.
    Keywords: Republic of Georgia, School infrastructure rehabilitation, STEM, teacher training, school director training
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mpr:mprres:0ba19e2b66244ade9c38ff0ab580a417&r=all
  13. By: Palmer, Edward; Stabina,Sandra
    Abstract: Latvia introduced a nonfinancial defined contribution (NDC) scheme in 1996 as it transitioned to a market economy. Despite a 20 percent decline in the working-age population from 1994?2016, the ratio of contributors to old-age pensioners rose from 1.6 to 2.1 given a steady increase in formal labor force participation and 5-6 percent real per capita wage growth. Projections show that long-term financial balance will be maintained through 2070, despite the threat of a projected 50 percent decline in the working-age population. Budgeted reserves will cushion the continued transition into a two-pillar public pension scheme. Latvia?s most important long-term policy challenge is to create the domestic investments and economic growth to reward younger workers for remaining in the country.
    Keywords: Social Development&Poverty,Labor&Employment Law,Adolescent Health,Labor Markets,Demographics
    Date: 2019–04–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:136546&r=all
  14. By: Piccoli, Luca; Tiezzi, Silvia (University of Siena)
    Abstract: This paper deals with one of the main empirical problems associated with the rational addiction theory, namely that its derived demand equation is not empirically distinguishable from models with forward looking behavior, but with time inconsistent preferences. The implication is that, even when forward looking behavior is supported by data, the standard rational addiction equation cannot distinguish between time consistency and inconsistency in preferences. We show that an encompassing general specification of the rational addiction model embeds the possibility of testing for time consistent versus time inconsistent naïve agents. We use a panel of Russian individuals to estimate a rational addiction equation for tobacco with time inconsistent preferences, where GMM estimators deal with errors in variables and unobserved heterogeneity. The results conform to the theoretical predictions and the proposed test for time consistency does not reject the hypothesis that Russian cigarettes consumers discount future utility exponentially. We further show that the proposed empirical specification of the Euler equation, whilst being indistinguishable from the general empirical specification of the rational addiction model, it allows to identify more structural parameters, such as an upper-bound for the parameter capturing present bias in time preferences.
    Keywords: rational addiction, general versus standard specification, time consistency, naïveté, GMM
    JEL: C23 D03 D12
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12906&r=all
  15. By: Ira Nichols-Barrer; Nicholas Ingwersen; Camila Fernandez; Elena Moroz; Matt Sloan
    Abstract: In this issue brief, Mathematica researchers highlight key findings from their evaluation of school rehabilitation and educator training initiatives in Georgia.
    Keywords: Georgia, education, schools, teacher training
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mpr:mprres:af16a3bae8ac4768886e3b4d14b0d816&r=all
  16. By: Pavlenko S. Ekaterina (National Research University Higher School of Economics)
    Abstract: This research studies the role of culture in reproducing inequality through educational decision-making (VE) students in Russia. We show how the way they meaningfully map their options affects their decisions and outcomes. We built upon the conceptual approach of Hodkinson, specifically “horizons of action” in studying how young people are restricted by the “horizon of action” in their opportunities to see all the options available to them. We expand Hodkinson’s approach by suggesting that the “horizon of action” is a symbolic structure that renders reality as a meaningful frame of reference which is the result of meanings shaping young people’s outlook. Using this approach, we extract four complexes of meanings which we call “symbolic logics”. We investigate further how “serendipity” and “agency” are woven into young people's symbolic logics of choice. We show that students rely on a meaningful frame that allows them to be agents enacting a narrative of “bringing adulthood closer”, but they are also highly uncertain about their future and are open to serendipity which plays a large role in their trajectories
    Keywords: youth, transition to adulthood, inequality, decision-making, horizon of action
    JEL: Z
    Date: 2020
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:56edu2020&r=all
  17. By: Garcia Moreno,Vicente A.; Patrinos,Harry Anthony
    Abstract: This paper estimates private and social returns to investment in education in Azerbaijan, using the 2015 Azerbaijan Monitoring Survey for Social Welfare. The private rate of return to education is 6 percent; this is the first estimate of returns to schooling in Azerbaijan since 1995. The returns to schooling are 6 percent for men and 8 percent for women, even controlling for selection. In addition, the paper estimates the returns for higher education; for this level, the rate of return is 9 percent. Finally, using the full discount method, the private rate of return to tertiary education is 9 percent, and the social rate of return is 8 percent. One policy implication is to re-examine the funding of higher education and for its expansion.
    Date: 2020–01–22
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:9117&r=all
  18. By: Torosyan, Karine (ISET, Tbilisi State University); Pignatti, Norberto (ISET, Tbilisi State University)
    Abstract: Modern women often face an uneasy choice: dedicating their time to reproductive household work, or joining the workforce and spending time away from home and household duties. Both choices are associated with benefits, as well as non-trivial costs, and necessarily involve some trade-offs, influencing the general feeling of happiness women experience given their decision. The trade-offs are especially pronounced in traditional developing countries, where both the pressure for women to stay at home and the need to earn additional income are strong, making the choice even more controversial. To understand the implications of this choice on the happiness of women in these types of countries we compare housewives and working women of the South Caucasus region. The rich data collected annually by the Caucasus Research Resource Center allows us to match working women with their housewife counterparts and to compare the level of happiness across the two groups – separately for each country as well as for Armenian and Azerbaijani minorities residing in Georgia. We find a significant negative happiness gap for working women in Armenia and in Azerbaijan, but not in Georgia. The absence of such a gap among the Armenian and Azerbaijani minorities of Georgia indicates that the gap is mostly a country- rather than an ethnicity-specific effect.
    Keywords: female employment, reproductive housework, life satisfaction and happiness, propensity score matching
    JEL: I31 J16 J21 J24
    Date: 2020–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12888&r=all
  19. By: Muller, Noël; Safir,Abla
    Abstract: Online job vacancies from a Ukrainian website were explored to assess the skills that employers look for among their new hires. The demand for cognitive, socioemotional, and technical skills across a range of medium- and high-skilled occupations were assessed. Most employers highly demand all three skills categories, more so than education level. Most occupations demand a variety of socioemotional skills, while the demand for cognitive and technical skills focuses on one or two skills. Cognitive and socioemotional skills appear as complementary: they are demanded similarly for a given occupation. Overall, online job vacancies are an informative complement to traditional sources to assess skills in demand.
    Keywords: Labor Markets,Educational Sciences,International Trade and Trade Rules,Rural Labor Markets
    Date: 2019–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:hdnspu:137560&r=all
  20. By: Evan Borkum; Irina Cheban; Camila Fernandez; Ira Nichols-Barrer
    Abstract: This issue brief provides key findings from a performance evaluation that Mathematica conducted on a technical and vocational education training program in the country of Georgia.
    Keywords: Georgia, vocational training, workforce development
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:mpr:mprres:11a8d3990da2451f94bd7c5cfd55c4a5&r=all

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