RUDN Journal of Economics

The purpose of the research is to study the features of Japanese-Indian cooperation at the present stage. Indian industrial policy and the model of economic development, which have undergone significant changes since the country gained independence, have actually adopted the implementation of the “Flying Geese” paradigm (theory), which was developed in the 1930s. by the Japanese Scientist K. Akamatsu. India was one of the first countries to sign a peace treaty with Japan after World War II. Since the beginning of the XXI century. Japanese-Indian economic cooperation is officially becoming a special strategic and global one, which indicates, first of all, on the part of India, a “movement” towards the diversification of economic partners. Despite the low volumes of mutual trade, the countries’ cooperation in the field of infrastructure projects, which are discussed in detail in the study, is more fruitful. It is also noteworthy that since 1958, Japan has been providing official development assistance to India under the Second Five-Year Plan.; This assistance is still being provided, and covers a number of projects in the field of infrastructure development, agriculture, horticulture, irrigation, electricity, rail and other communications. An analysis of Japanese-Indian cooperation shows that India’s interests are mainly focused on solving domestic problems and are concentrated in the field of infrastructure projects combined with ensuring geopolitical objectives; Japanese foreign economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region are achieved through the use of “soft power” tools. The most significant aspect of Japan-India cooperation is Japan’s admission to the construction of infrastructure projects along India’s eastern border with China. In addition, Japan is the only country that India has allowed to launch and complete a mountain road maintenance capacity development project in the Northeast of the country. These privileges granted to the Japanese side are part of the development of India’s military-strategic and technical potential. The study used materials from Indologists published both in the Soviet period and in the 21st century. The information base was statistics and analytics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of India, the Indian Council for Investment Promotion, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, etc. In the course of the research, the authors used methods of comparison and retrospection, induction and deduction.

The relevance of studying the trends in the development of foreign trade operations of the BRICS countries is due to the ever-increasing role of the union in the global economy. The study presents the results of the analysis of the dynamics and structure of foreign trade operations of export and import of the BRICS countries for the period 2000-2022. In the entire volume of world trade of the BRICS countries, the most significant items of cross-border exchange of goods were identified in order to study the trend of the dynamics of the BRICS countries in international trade. The indicators of export and import of the most important food and raw materials, energy resources, which make up about 40% of the total turnover, were studied. The outpacing growth of exports compared to imports indicates a relatively better supply of raw materials, as well as a higher level of competitiveness of the BRICS countries compared to other economic unions and other states. The analysis of the growth structure of the volumes of foreign trade operations of the BRICS member countries showed the prevalence of high-tech goods with high added value in exports and a high raw material component of the BRICS imports. The results demonstrate trends in significant growth in the volumes of foreign trade operations and the overall positive dynamics of the growth of the BRICS share in world trade for a 20-year period, which indicates an increase in the political and economic power of the union countries. The findings allow us to predict the growth of the economic potential of the union, further increase in trade flows and an increase in the share in world trade, which will strengthen both political positions in the world and will contribute to the deepening of cooperation and macroeconomic coordination of the BRICS countries.

Modern trends in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) reflect the rapid development of digital technologies in transportation and logistics. MaaS, as a concept, integrates various modes of transport into a unified digital platform, offering users personalized mobility solutions such as booking, payment, and real-time route planning. This model aims to reduce reliance on private vehicles, alleviate traffic congestion, and enhance the environmental sustainability of urban mobility. The study focuses on analyzing key factors driving the adoption of MaaS: data reliability, user convenience, platform flexibility, and the objectivity of service selection. It examines the primary implementation models of MaaS, including those led by commercial integrators, municipal regulators, and decentralized blockchain-based platforms. Each model presents unique advantages and limitations in terms of cybersecurity, data management, and adaptability to user needs. Additionally, the study highlights the role of MaaS in advancing smart cities. The integration of electric vehicles, autonomous cars, and data analytics contributes to building more sustainable and efficient transportation infrastructures. The study emphasizes the importance of international collaboration to establish standardized approaches and mitigate risks associated with MaaS implementation projects.

The study is devoted to the study of the scientific and practical problem of refracting the crisis trend in the development of modern society, the promising solution of which is a financial response in the form of tax regulation. The study is aimed at determining the role of taxation in the conditions of a modern crisis society. The study is carried out by drawing up simple linear regression equations that reflect the patterns of changes in indicators of crisis phenomena in modern society as the tax burden (taxes on income, profits and capital gains) changes, as estimated by the World Bank in 2022, based on an international sample of 2020 countries. As a result, it was concluded that taxation plays an important role in the conditions of a modern crisis society, having a significant impact on a wide range of crisis phenomena in modern society. Economic and mathematical patterns have been drawn up, indicating that as the tax burden grows, economic growth slows down, international migration flows increase, income inequality decreases, the country’s position in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, exports of goods and services increase, the added value of average and high-tech industries, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The results obtained develop the Theory of Economic Crises through the systematization of key crises in modern society and clarification of the role of taxation in economic crisis management. The theoretical significance of the results obtained is due to the fact that they revealed the previously unknown role of the tax burden in the functioning and development of a crisis society. The practical significance of the author’s conclusions is that they make it possible to increase the efficiency of economic crisis management through a more effective response to economic crises through taxation. It is substantiated that reducing the tax burden in a crisis society is dangerous, as it can aggravate the manifestation of crises in society. The most preferable financial response to the challenges of our time involves increasing the tax burden, which will mitigate the manifestation of crises in society.

The impact of Western sanctions on Iran’s energy security is reviewed, and significant changes in the country’s energy landscape are highlighted. The main goal is to assess how the sanctions have affected various aspects of energy security, including accessibility, security, and infrastructure development. Between 2000 and 2010, Iran’s energy security index improved significantly, rising from 35.46 to 61.1. This was driven by increased investment in energy infrastructure and access to affordable energy resources, which allowed the country to strengthen its energy sector. However, the introduction of comprehensive sanctions in 2011 was a turning point that caused a sharp decline in the energy security index due to reduced international investment and limited access to technology and financial resources. Partial recovery was observed after the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015, when sanctions were temporarily eased, which allowed for the resumption of external contacts. Nevertheless, the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 led to the re-imposition of sanctions, further worsening the energy security situation. The situation has worsened against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted global energy markets, and increasing geopolitical tensions. By 2021, the energy security index has dropped to 27.58, reflecting serious challenges. Data analysis indicates a strategic shift in priorities: Iran has focused on ensuring energy availability for Iranian consumers and producers in the country’s manufacturing sector. To improve energy security, the study suggests that Iran diversify its energy mix, strengthen regional partnerships, improve energy efficiency, and modernize outdated infrastructure. It is concluded that similar strategies for overcoming sanctions and mitigating their negative consequences for national energy security are applicable to Russia, and attention is focused on diversifying energy resources, self-sufficiency, and strengthening ties with non-Western countries.

The study considers the peculiarities of labour migration in Azerbaijan in the context of the development of regional integration processes. The study is based on the approach to statistical analysis of labour migration flows based on the method of ‘mirror’ statistics of sending and receiving countries. The analysis involves statistical data on demographic parameters, labour migration, employment, unemployment, remittances of migrants to Azerbaijan from several institutions and agencies. The aim of the study was to identify trends in international labour migration in Azerbaijan in two key flows - inbound and outbound migration. It analyses demographic, economic, socio-cultural and geopolitical factors shaping the flows of labour migrants in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a rather attractive country for labour migrants. Attraction of foreign labour force is based on a quota system. Quotas determine the number and procedural framework for hiring foreign labour force. Earlier Azerbaijan invited mostly foreign specialists related to oil and gas industry, later employers started to invite specialists and workers in construction business, agriculture, automotive industry, military production. There is also a need for IT specialists. Azerbaijan is not only a receiving but also a sending country for labour migrants. A significant number of Azerbaijanis went abroad in different years and for different reasons, entering the labour markets of receiving countries as migrant workers or permanent residents. The Russian Federation remains the largest external labour market for Azerbaijani citizens. Azerbaijan’s accession to the EAEU could significantly facilitate its citizens’ access to the common labour market.