This paper deals with the socioeconomic and technological development of Arctic regions of the Russian Federation in the context of a modernizing world. The methodological basis of the comparative analysis is the concept of primary and secondary modernization or integrated modernization for developing countries.

In the present article, the main principles of the circular economy are outlined in contradistinction with the existing and traditional linear economic model. An econometric model describing the influence of the linear economy on the environment is presented. The environment is characterized by seven key processes: change in global temperature; emissions of greenhouse gases from industry to the environment; emissions of greenhouse gases from agriculture to the environment; CO₂ emissions into the environment; depletion of fresh water supplies; reduction of forest cover; and economic damage from climatological disasters. The model describing the impact of the traditional linear economy on the environment consists of seven interdependent econometric equations, each comprising an autoregressive distributed lag (ADL)-model. The proposed econometric model is used to analyze the environmental effects of the present linear economy. Methodological provisions for a transformational transition of the traditional linear economic model to the closed-loop systems, which also permit the impact of the closed-loop systems on the environment to be analyzed, are set out. Seven ecological indicators are proposed as criteria for comparing the traditional linear economy and the closed-loop systems. The manuscript presents a new approach for the determination of ecological criteria for comparing linear and circular economies. The results of the study could be interesting to address circular processes, which can be used as a criterion to establish ecological management according to the status of natural resources.

This paper investigates the effects of digital production and information technologies on the development of logistic systems of different kinds: megalogistic, macrologistic, and micrologistic. The notions of a logistic system and types of logistic systems imply that logistics is considered in its broad sense as a modern methodology for managing all types of flows that appear in the process of socioeconomic activities of society and business: material, information, energy, financial and labor flows. The methodology discussed in this paper gives the answer to the question of what impact digital production and information technologies have on the development of various types of logistic systems. The methodology includes building a mathematical model in which the endogenous variables of the model reflect the resulting variables of the logistic system, while the exogenous variables reflect digital production and information technologies. The mathematical model is a system of interdependent dynamic econometric equations. Each equation is an autoregressive distributed lags model. In the model, the current values of an endogenous variable depend on their previous values, as well as on the current and previous values of other endogenous and exogenous variables. The novelty of the research is in the developed methodology for a comprehensive assessment of the impact made by digitalization on a totality of the interrelated and interdependent resulting indicators of the logistic system. A comprehensive assessment of the impact made by digitalization on a totality of interrelated and interdependent indicators of the logistic system is understood as a change in the indicators of the logistic system due to the effect of digitalization. The proposed methodology for a comprehensive assessment was empirically tested for Salesforce company.

The present paper is devoted to define contemporary essence and logic of developing the Northern Sea Route (NSR) for the near future of Russia and beyond. A global nature of such upcoming processes as melting the Polar Ice Cap, depletion of readily available oil/gas reserves (causing a rise in prices on such commodities) and emerging confrontation between interests of circumpolar countries and non-circumpolar countries (on the background of a fast-growing economic and military power of latter and an ambiguity of legal status of using the Arctic space and its mineral resources) is defined. The features of Russian developing the NSR are historically and logically depicted and a decisive role of state political decisions and investments concerning the NSR is shown. The topological model of Russian Siberian-Arctic infrastructure grid where the NSR serves as its backbone is proposed. The said model and comparing data between domestic and transit turnover of cargo through the NSR have reinforced the hypothesis of the special importance of domestic functions of the NSR. A SWOT-matrix permitting to describe a current situation and future scenarios for the NSR is presented. The findings of the study allowed defining limitations and a vector of future research.

The paper aims to reveal the prospects for the development of global energy sector and to look into the prospects for alternative energy sources in the world power industry. The paper provides the analysis of oil and gas (natural, liquefied, shale) production and transportation in the medium term. We define the conditions and the main factors of providing energy security as well as overcoming energy poverty of national economies. For the purpose of energy diversification, we identify the directions and the potential for the use of alternative energy sources and the possibility to step up development of alternative energy. On the basis of statistics, the paper demonstrates that the use of alternative fuels (hydrogen, biofuel, solar and wind energy, tidal energy) has not yet resulted in a significant decrease in the demand for oil, gas and other traditional energy sources. It is noted that offshore Arctic gas development is gradually increasing. Data on Arctic seas gas resources are provided. Geopolitical, financial, economic and environmental risks on the world energy markets are classified.

>This paper discusses general facts about energy policies and analyzes their relationship to the quality of life in Russia. Aspects of the...