Social and economic development. Рубрика в журнале - Arctic and North
New projects for the development of Russian Arctic: space matters!
Статья научная
The article summarizes the results of the analysis of 23 recent projects for the development of Russian Arctic resources in terms of the spatial effects they generate or rely on. It is proved to be the feature of the economic and geographical approach to the analysis of arctic projects. The most critical change, compared with the realities of the late Soviet era, is the reliance on the sea logistics of most new projects for the development of Russian Arctic resources. Three main spatial effects of development projects are described in detail: the localization effect, the regional effect, and the corporate effect. The first one reflects the desire of companies to the utmost compactness and low occupancy of the production site, platform solutions using artificial intelligence, remote control, robotic mining, and processing schemes. The second effect revives the Soviet district effect within the contour of the resource corporation as their desire to provide cost savings on the “soft” infrastructure pairing of neighboring production facilities. The third effect characterizes the cooperation of usually competing companies in severe natural and economic conditions for the development of arctic projects. It is untypical but may occur in some cases. The territorial structures of the new development space are also affected by the desire of companies to absolute control of the resource chain, to rely on previously created development bases, technological, organizational, and institutional innovations, which usually have a spatial “dimension”. An “ideal” corporate scheme for the modern development of arctic resources - a separate autonomous production platform where production and processing are deployed, with uninhabited technologies and remote control of production, contradicts state interests and creates sharp spatial and social contrasts.
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Статья научная
The article presents the results of a study of the peculiarities of financing the road economy of the Murmansk Oblast — the Arctic region, the development of transport, including road, infrastructure of which acquires particular importance in the light of the implementation of national interests and priority directions of Russian state policy in the Arctic. In the course of work, the author considered the dynamics of spending funds from the Road Fund of the Murmansk Oblast for 2012–2020. It has been determined that the existing volume of financing of the regional road infrastructure does not allow the region to fully implement the tasks of developing road infrastructure and improving the quality of highways (primarily local ones). It is concluded that additional funds are needed to finance the road infrastructure of the Arctic regions, including through the use of public-private partnership mechanisms. The results of the study can be used in the formation of a policy in the field of road facilities in the Murmansk Oblast, as well as in further research on the financial support of road activities and the functioning of road funds.
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Статья научная
The authors consider the concept and description of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), the main preconditions for the development of the export in the Russian Arctic when using the NSR. The concept and analysis of coastal transport using Arctic vessels and the forecast conclusions on possible Arctic projects are discussed. System for the development of the Russian Arctic export, coastal transport, and project cargo include rail and sea freight transport systems. The purpose of the article is to analyze the data on transport systems, as well as to determine the critical prospects for their development in Russia, considering a new concept - the Northern Sea Transport Corridor. It is the national transport communication of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the development of the Arctic cargo flow in the Northern Sea Route is mainly connected with the projects for the development of mineral resources in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. For the transshipment of hydrocarbon raw materials and ores from the Northern Sea Route area, the ports of the Barents Sea are used. In the future, a significant role will be played by LNG transshipment in the ports of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Murmansk (Marine LNG transshipment complex). Also, it is planned to use the port of Indiga for the transshipment of coal from Western Taimyr. The NSR shipment ports and transshipment ports form a single transport chain and require coordinated management.
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Problems and prospects of Atlantic salmon mariculture development in the Russian Arctic
Статья научная
The authors present the volume of Atlantic salmon farming in the world and in the Russian Arctic. It shows the reasons that hamper the development of salmonid mariculture in the Russian Arctic: the lack of own planting material adapted to Arctic waters, high-quality fodder, fish diseases and others. Objectives of the article: to show the peculiarities of natural and socio-economic conditions of mariculture development in the Russian Arctic and the impact of Atlantic salmon mariculture on import substitution. Relevance stems from the need to substantiate the sources of import substitution of salmon products. The most important results: the main factors that reduce the economic efficiency of growing and selling products were found; the possible causes of salmon diseases in the Russian Arctic and their impact on production processes were systematized, the possible impact of caged fish farming on the environment and on the population of salmon in the Arctic zone was shown. Practical significance: the article shows the influence of possible escapes of farmed salmon on the socio-economic conditions of the population of the Terskiy coast of the Murmansk region and the White Sea basin. It is proposed to introduce Atlantic GM salmon into the composition of genetically modified products. It is shown that import substitution is fully provided by Atlantic salmon mariculture and the supply of wild salmon from the Far East to the European part of Russia.
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Problems of the Arctic traditional industries in Yakutia
Статья научная
The transformations taking place in Russia since the 90s have changed both the political and economic and social systems of the country. Privatization led to a loss of manageability of all agriculture, but significantly negatively affected the traditional agricultural sectors of Yakutia. The transformation of organizational and legal forms and the transition to small-scale production negatively affected animal husbandry as the main occupation of the republic's indigenous population. Despite government support for traditional industries, there has been no positive change. Of particular concern is the implementation of large industrial projects in the Arctic. The subject of the study is factors and trends affecting the socio-economic situation and the development of traditional industries. The goal is to determine the features and patterns of the development of traditional industries and assess the impact of ongoing transformations in the Arctic on their condition. The research hypothesis is the assumption of insufficient state regulation measures and mutually beneficial economic relations with business in the industrial development of the Arctic. The results of the studies showed the need to increase the attention of all levels of government in deciding on the development of a particular territory of the Arctic and identifying such rules and mechanisms for companies that should not only ensure the preservation of agricultural industries, but also improve the quality and standard of living of the population. The research methodology is based on system analysis using economic and statistical methods, analytical and computational algorithms for processing information on the development of agro-industrial complex and changing dynamics, including content analysis.
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Reindeer Tracking Technologies in the Russian Federation
Статья научная
Currently, reindeer husbandry actively uses tracking technologies to identify animals. They allow solving the problems of breeding and zootechnical accounting, tracking the movement of animals between herds, and carrying out antiepizootic measures. The electronic databases with individual characteristics of reindeer formed in this process allow speeding up the breeding process, organising breeding work in reindeer breeding, improving the breed and regulating the herd. Keeping an electronic “registration” of calves to their mothers gives the possibility of system functioning of cross-breeding estimation of animals that will undoubtedly increase both productivity and economic efficiency of reindeer breeding as a whole. This article addresses an issue related to reindeer tracking technologies. Attention is paid to radio tracking and satellite tracking techniques. The use of modern methods of chipping animals is considered on the example of various territories of the Russian Federation: the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Trans-Baikal Krai, the Murmansk Oblast, the Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Republic of Karelia, the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The work carried out on deer chipping is considered for various time periods, during which monitoring, programs, projects and other large-scale studies of animal movement paths were carried out. The resulting data can then be processed using mathematical tools, after which conclusions can be drawn about the impact of the environment on reindeer migration routes.
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Research, development, and education: laying foundations for Arctic and Northern data centers
Статья научная
The global data center industry is a huge and rapidly growing sector. This growth has resulted in the development of significant data center clusters in various northern regions. Furthermore, the desire to attract new data center investments has been incorporated into regional development plans and strategies in different parts of the Circumpolar North. Although the policy-makers seem to have great expectations, they and the general public often know little about the industry, which consumes huge amounts of electricity and plays an immense role in the digitalization process that the world is experiencing. This article attempts to increase awareness, knowledge, and understanding of these matters among all relevant stakeholders by introducing data center-related research and development activities and education in the Arctic and the North, as well as research concerning the development of the data center industry in the cold, northern environment. After all, it is often argued that these particular conditions offer advantageous circumstances for the construction of environmentally friendly and sustainable data centers.
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Статья научная
The aim of the work is to determine a scientifically based assessment of the resource potential of the Arctic industry, which determines the possibility of transition the economy to an innovation type of development, taking into account its specific features. The considered scientific works of foreign and domestic scientists made it possible to determine the methodology for rational assessment of the resource potential of the industry of the Arctic territories. The study was performed on the basis of production, technical, investment, staffing and innovation development indicators for 2013–2019. The study showed that in terms of production and technical indicators the Arctic regions generally have an average level of resource potential while the maximum values are typical for the Nenets and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs. In terms of investment indicators, the Arctic regions are characterized by high potential. In terms of staffing, the Arctic regions are characterized by low potential while Murmansk Oblast demonstrated effective personnel policy. Innovation development indicators of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the Murmansk Oblast are lower than in the Chukotka and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrugs. The Arctic regions are characterized by the differentiation of indicators of resource provision of economic development associated with differences in production, investment, personnel and innovation spheres. The study showed that the highest aggregate resource potential for innovation development is typical for the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug while the lowest one is typical for the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and the Murmansk Oblast. Proposals for further scientific research in the direction of enhancing innovation and accordingly increasing socio-economic indicators of the Arctic regions were developed.
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Статья научная
This paper contributes to filling a knowledge gap by presenting new research within the practical field of road transport. It takes the buyers of road transport services as its point of entry and seeks to answer the follow question: How can buyers of road transport services contribute to safe road transport in northern Norway? A qualitative approach was selected for this study, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with six different buyers of road transport services. By using a modified version of The Pentagon Model, different aspects were analyzed in order to identify organizational characteristics and qualities that will improve the possibility for buyers of road transport to contribute to a safer road transport in Northern Norway and thereby contribute to fewer accidents and near-misses. The following characteristics and qualities were identified: 1) the importance of developing a detailed formal contract with the provider of road transport; 2) being aware of the possibilities with new technologies; 3) understanding that the decision criteria for ordering transport can influence road transport safety; 4) seeing the importance of good communication with both the transport organization and the authorities; 5) recognizing that knowledge of and trust in a transport organization is important but could also affect judgement regarding revisions and controls. This study suggests that buyers of road transport services can contribute to a safer road transport in northern Norway by emphasizing these five characteristics and qualities.
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Scenarios for the development of the Arctic region (2020–2035)
Статья научная
The importance of selecting the development of the Arctic seems to be relevant since rapid and irreversible changes are taking place there. Climate change and globalization are their prominent examples. A complex of factors has both positive and negative impacts on the use of natural resources and the positioning of states located not only within the Arctic but also outside it. The questions arise: what is the significance of these changes for geography, politics, and the management system? How should the comprehension of these processes be built? The relevance of the topic is enhanced by the fact that Russia has the most significant Arctic sector among the states with access to the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, our country has a leading role in working out strategies for the development of the Arctic. The comprehensive approach (considering the economic and political-geographical positions) is central in the article to analyze the directions of development of the Arctic territories. The method reveals the possibilities of sustainable development, which will provide Russia with strategic benefits within the Arctic and globally. The article discusses scenarios for the development of the Arctic, including the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, in the long-term perspective (until 2035). Substantiation of the long-term prospects for the development of the Arctic, despite Russian and foreign research, seems to be unrealistic due to lack of knowledge about the nature and consequences of climatic changes currently observed in this region and affecting global environmental management. The authors concluded that the priority directions of the Arctic development should be the ones based on positive and innovative trends.
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Статья научная
The development of Arctic hydrocarbon resources is in the sphere of interests of many large companies. At the same time, the vast northern territories and polar seas do not have a developed infrastructure that would allow implementing various transport and technological solutions for the development of oil fields. The opportunities for attracting the resources of the Russian Arctic into economic circulation are currently being used to a small extent, which is caused by various factors, both objective and subjective, that were formed at the previous stages of the country's development. This work is devoted to the problem of choosing an HR strategy when placing objects of the transport and technological system of oil fields in the Russian Arctic, taking into account the ecological, economic and socio-economic features of this macroregion. Using the example of oil and gas fields in the coastal-shelf zone of the south-eastern part of the Barents and Kara Seas, the authors consider multivariate forecasts for the formation of a rational scheme for the transportation of hydrocarbons as an integral part of the regional oil and gas complex. The authors assign a special role to the important economic and socio-psychological components associated with the processes of organizing the work of oil workers. At the same time, they come to the conclusion that the shift method of labor organization, adopted by many large mining companies, should not displace, but only complement the traditional methods of attracting personnel to the Arctic oil infrastructure facilities. The use of the combined method of labor organization in the Arctic is the most optimal, allowing to integrate the advantages and localize the disadvantages of other methods of labor organization.
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Small business in the Arctic: background for changing the management paradigm
Статья научная
The article is devoted to the analysis and justification of socio-economic background that initiates the need to change the paradigm of management for small and medium-sized businesses in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The key points of this analysis, in addition to the generally accepted estimates of demographic trends, were those indicators of the dynamics and structure of the standard of living which are the link between the population as a consumer of goods and services, and small businesses that create these goods and services. In the almost complete absence of a single content that allows full monitoring of small and medium-sized businesses, the state makes attempts to make adequate management decisions based on the project management methods. It is especially clearly reflected in the adopted and implemented system of national and federal projects and programs. At the same time, even in the current trends in the formation of information and analytical support for these projects and programs that directly or indirectly relate to small businesses, economic aspects often prevail over social ones, which is directly reflected in the formation of the management paradigm. At the same time, a systematic approach and appropriate tools, lead the authors to the conclusion that in the coordinate system of socio-economic development of the Arctic territories, the economic drivers are large corporate structures, while small businesses are assigned the role of a localized “social buffer”. It is one of the main backgrounds for changing the paradigm for small and medium-sized business management in the Arctic areas of Russia. The current economic situation caused by the COVID-2019 pandemic fully confirms our assumptions.
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Spatial Organisation of Gas Resources Development in the Yamal Oil and Gas Bearing Region
Статья научная
The Yamal oil and gas province (OGP) is strategically important for the Russian gas industry. In the coming decade, gas production in Yamal is expected to grow to 180–200 billion cubic meters per year. The main goal of the article is to solve a scientific problem consisting in the study of the spatial organization of the development of gas resources, determination of the rational structure of reproduction of natural gas reserves in the Yamal oil-gas-bearing region in the context of the modernization of the Arctic gas industry complex. The article assessed the gas resources of Yamal, revealed trends in the economic development of natural gas fields, presented the characteristics of investment projects based on the fields being developed. An analysis was carried out that made it possible to differentiate the deposits by the degree of their prospects, and a strategy for expanding the hydrocarbon potential of Yamal was determined. It was revealed that the main areas of production in the Yamal oil-gas-bearing region are associated with the development of deposits with a high level of Cenomanian deposits. Such deposits are characterized by a higher increase in the capitalization and profitability of investment projects in real time compared to fields located in the northern and far eastern seas, including on the shelf of the Kara Sea. It was concluded that the strategy for the reproduction of hydrocarbon potential will be aimed at conducting prospecting and exploration in order to transfer forecast resources to industrial reserves of natural gas. The study applies a general scientific methodology providing for systemic and comprehensive approaches to justify the spatial organisation of gas resources development in the Yamal oil and gas bearing region. A significant body of factual material on the state of free gas and condensate reserves in Yamal has been analyzed. The results of the research were obtained with the use of comparative-analytical, statistical methods of economic analysis.
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Status and specifics of the housing market in the Arctic regions of Russia
Статья научная
This paper aims to analyze and identify the specifics of housing industry development in the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation using methods of comparative, analysis, statistical methods of grouping indicators, the method of scoring points. In the course of the work, an analysis of economic indicators of the housing market development, an assessment of the population's effective demand for housing. The main trends in the housing market development in the arctic regions were identified. The results show insufficient and uneven rates of construction of housing, a high share of emergency housing, and low investment in the housing industry in some regions. A disparity was observed between real estate prices and the population income because the population debt burden on the housing credit is quite high. According to the developed by the authors’ method of assessing the housing market based on selected indicators, the main problems are characterized and the development of the housing market in the arctic regions is assessed. It was found that in some regions the level of economic indicators of housing market development and the population's solvency significantly lags the Russian trends. The results have practical significance for the federal and regional authorities in creating housing policies and the implementation programs of national projects in the sphere of housing affordability, the main directions which should be demographic to attract and increase the resident population in the Russian Arctic, as well as the regulatory functions of the housing market by reducing interest rates and stimulating the construction industry development.
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Статья научная
The Russian Arctic has been attracting a growing interest in terms of research and management. The former is due to the lack of knowledge about current processes in its development in the rapidly changing internal and external environments, and the latter is driven by the rising significance of this macroregion in ensuring the country’s economic, ecological, geopolitical stability, and national security. Being interdependent, these interest spheres evidence the demand for the study of Arctic regions, especially newly established ones, and underlie its practical value, which consists in building the analytical foundations for working out and implementing the administrative mechanisms for socio-economic space integration in Arctic regions. Hence, the aim of this study is to define the strategic development priorities for the regional socio-economic system of the Karelian Arctic as a newly established region in the context of the multifarious Russian Arctic integration processes. This aim is achieved through the following tasks: analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the socio-economic system of the Karelian Arctic, identification of key challenges and opportunities for its development, identification of the strategic priorities to overcome threats and realize opportunities. The principal methods were expert and in-depth interviews, SWOT analysis and content analysis, the dialectic method and system approach, which were applied in the context of the propositions of spatial economics. As a result of the study, characteristics of the Karelian Arctic’s socio-economic system are identified in the context of the high-relevance problems of managing the development of the Arctic macroregion as a complex system. Directions for further research are defined, with the aim to build the scientific foundations for managing the spatial development of the Russian Arctic zone and its constituent regions and for handling the challenges hindering such development.
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Статья научная
At present, new financial mechanisms of interaction between employees and employers in the context of market relations are being formed and improved in Russia. The decisive factor in workers’ performance is their financial motivation and stimulation. The determinative of productivity of an enterprise activity is remuneration efficiency as a base of laborers’ financial motivation and stimulation. The remuneration is a flexible element of distributive relations and it is impossible to create an effective motivational mechanism without an establishment of its communication with final results. Such indices as salary distribution and salary intensity as basic indicators of wage efficiency assessment have been used in the paper. The object of the research is sixteen large and medium-sized fishing enterprises in the Arkhangelsk region as a part of the Arctic fishing cluster. These enterprises catch fish in the Barents and Norwegian seas, as well as in the North Atlantic. It has been shown that the financial results of fishing enterprises depend on external conditions — primarily on the quotas for fish catch and the price of fish products. In the research, the authors have proceeded from the following hypotheses: the Arctic fishing cluster’s enterprises operate in a monopsony on the labor market; there is a pattern between the size of wage fund and financial performance of the Arctic fishery cluster enterprises; the change in wage fund is an effective mechanism to improve the efficiency of the Arctic fishery cluster. In the course of the research, the following interrelated tasks have been solved: the identification of the features of the Arctic fishing cluster’s labor market; the assessment of the effectiveness of the wage fund use for the Arctic fishing cluster’s enterprises based on the author's methodology; the identification of the importance of the problem of insufficient efficiency of wage fund use in the Arctic fishing cluster.
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The Food Security Doctrine: Regional Aspects
Статья научная
The article discusses issues of the state of the agro-industrial complex of the region in connection with the need to fulfill the targets approved in January 2020 by the new edition of the Food Security Doctrine of Russia. The purpose of the study is to identify the problems of the northern region and to develop proposals for changing the situation for the successful implementation of the Doctrine. The scientific problem discussed in the article relates to the determination of the methodological foundations of the most relevant areas of agrarian policy for the current state, ensuring the implementation of the Food Security Doctrine of Russia and increasing the level of self-sufficiency of the region. The author's research develops the theory of determining the socio-economic role of effective interaction between authorities of different levels, scientific justification of the prospects for the further development of the agro-industrial complex due to the transformation of the industry development management system, innovative approach to training personnel for the agricultural sector, and introduction of new technological solutions as highly relevant. It has been established that such factors as the lack of effective interaction between the state and municipal authorities, and also the lack of young qualified personnel, whose competence meets the modern requirements, have a negative impact on the economy of agricultural production and food self-sufficiency of the region as a whole. The article draws attention to the underestimated opportunities for improving the situation in the agro-industrial complex due to a change in the scheme of interaction between the state and municipal authorities during the implementation of the program-targeted method of regulation and strategic planning, as well as the creation of a scientific and educational complex in the region for the training of competitive specialists for the agro-industrial complex. In order to improve the situation, it is necessary to consolidate the formation of a regional agricultural system on the basis of a set of similar systems developed by the municipalities themselves, based on the relevant climatic conditions, financial, material and labor resources of these areas. Besides, it is necessary to start the training of personnel for the agroindustrial complex system from school, applying new educational standards, based on scientific developments.
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The blue economy in the Arctic Ocean: governing aquaculture in Alaska and North Norway
Статья научная
In the Arctic, the concept of the blue economy is increasingly dominating discussions on regional development. This entails utilising the region’s ocean-based resources in a sustainable way - both from a global and local level, as well as from an environmental and economic perspective. A crucial aspect in this development is how blue activities are regulated. The UNCLOS-regime plays a vital part in providing the mechanisms and procedures for states to manage marine resources more broadly. However, the predominant mode of governance for Arctic maritime activities will remain unilateral management by each of the coastal states. Thus, the national and local legal and political framework needs to be mapped. In this article we will explore and explain how aqua/-mariculture is governed in the United States (Alaska) and Norway (North Norway). This will be done by examining how parameters for blue economic projects are defined and determined at the international, regional, national and local governance level. Thus, our article will illustrate the complexity behind the blue economy. There is no such thing as one blue economy and no such thing as one Arctic, but it is still possible to find common ground and avenues for knowledge and best practice exchange. By this we will bring the academic and political discussions about the blue economy on the right track.
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Статья научная
The article considers the relationship of social capital, institutional and interpersonal trust, and entrepreneurial activity on the data of the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The authors, following R. Putnam, analytically distinguish two types of social capital - bonding and bridging. The level of the former is measured by interpersonal trust indices, while the latter is measured by general and institutional trust indices. Based on the analysis of the sociological survey results, conducted by the authors of the article, it is shown that the level of bonding capital, based on trust in the nearest social environment, is quite high in the Arkhangelsk Oblast, but there is a shortage of bridging capital that based on trust in public institutions and civil solidarity. It is shown that the deficit of bridging social capital, associated with a low level of trust in institutions, increases the transaction costs of market agents like entrepreneurs, which negatively affects the implementation of the region's entrepreneurial potential. Thus, it is proved that the amount of social capital is a key non-economic factor that reduces the investment rating and entrepreneurial activity indicators in the region against the backdrop of low dynamics of gross regional product and population incomes and increasing government spending to stimulate small and medium-sized businesses.
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The courage of economic decisions and the modern development of the Russian Arctic
Статья научная
The article analyzes the phenomenon of the courage of economic decisions in the development of the Russian Arctic. Courage is understood as a feature of contractual behavior - the ability to radically change or propose new conditions for an economic contract, which leads to dramatic shifts in the territorial, technological and organizational structure of the development process. In the modern development of the Arctic, new factors that affect the boldness of economic decisions are considered. First of all, it is climate change that pushes the boundaries of what is possible for maritime logistics, for the arrangement and extraction of the Arctic’s natural resources from offshore platforms. The manifestations of courage as a result of “infection” from small venture companies for large corporations and as a forced result of a contractual inter-corporate conflict are also considered. For modern development, important factors that determine the boldness of decisions are logistics, platform technology, and the complete or partial abandonment of the use of icebreakers in favor of specialized ice-strengthened ships. An estimation was made of the courage of business decisions for 24 projects of modern exploration of the Arctic resources using the U-ETO algorithm: according to 12 indicators grouped in blocks of “uniqueness”, “environment”, “technology”, and “organization”. As a result of this assessment, it was concluded that the courage of economic decisions is not directly related to the capital intensity of investment projects: relatively modest mining projects of new development can exceed super-capital intensive investment megaprojects for the development of hydrocarbons (e.g., Bovanenkovo or Vankor) if they rely on innovative technologies, organizational scheme and marine environment for its logistics, production, and processing. A major contradiction in the modern development of the Russian Arctic is the contrast between the uniqueness of the natural assets of the field and the traditional methods of its arrangement and development.
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