Management of the budget process in the Russian Federation as the main link in budget management

The paper discusses the issues of management of the budgetary process in the Russian Federation that are relatively little-studied in the domestic science, and their place in budget management is shown. By disclosing the essence and structural units of budget management, the author shows that the budget management process in Russia takes an independent place in the hierarchical system of budget management and is its main element at the same time. It is proved that during the budget management process it is possible to identify ways to improve the management of public and municipal finances, as this process permeates all the spheres of activities of state and municipal authorities. The author describes in detail the content and objectives as well as economic and procedural legal framework for the management of the budget process in Russia at every stage of its organization. Special attention is paid to issues concerning the reform of budget management in the Russian Federation on the basis of the concept for reforming the budgetary process in the Russian Federation in 2004-2006 developed by the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and approved by the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 22, 2004 No. 249 “On the measures to increase efficiency of budget expenditures”. The author makes a conclusion that the implementation of the provisions of the said concept into practice became the basis on which the first large-scale budget reform in modern Russia was implemented, which laid the foundation for the improvement of budget process and budget management in the whole country. However, in the article the author proves that scientific-theoretical, methodological and legislative developments in relation to current requirements improve the administration of the budgetary process in the Russian Federation as the main element of budget management still need to be further developed. It is shown that in the context of the ongoing profound economic and financial crisis in Russia it is necessary to work out a new state economic and financial policy, which is ultimately connected with the application of general models of managing the economy and finance at the macro level. According to the author, a model of management of economy and finances at the macro level that has been in use for many years in Russia and continues to be used today and which is based on the liberal-monetarist concept has become the main reason for today's protracted economic and financial crisis of the country. Accordingly, the author believes that the only alternative way to take the country out of a systemic economic crisis and to ensure future sustainable growth of its economy is to abandon the liberal-monetarist model of economic management and finance at the macro level, to emphasize the economic role of the state, and to shift from free market to the model of state-regulated market economy. In light of the implementation of the new economic and financial policy and carrying out appropriate fiscal reforms in the country in relation to modern requirements, the author outlines main directions for further improvement of budget management in the Russian Federation as the main element of budget management.