The authors of the present paper consider development of perception and estimation of the economic category “investment demand” of a region from the standpoint of its significance in reference to regional policy-making and investment process management in a region. In order to specify regional policy priorities, a model of a finance-investment act is suggested by the authors; the given act specifies assessment criteria of investment requirements by a region, and actualizes regional policy regarding activation of investment processes in the region.

Interaction of the lithosphere and the biosphere with a view of socioeconomic activity by a human being has the most complete effect in the process of mineral resource utilization. It is typical of mining and metal production complexes (MMC) of the Ural, which are basic for the regional economy. A research methodology related to anthropogenic transformation of environment caused by MMCs, including techniques, principles of construction, forms, means and approaches to the scientific knowledge has been developed.

The substance and function of an intellectual capital in social reproduction are considered in the paper. Intellectual capital is treated in unity with its properties — as an element of public (national) wealth, production factor capable of reproducing extensively, provided dynamic regulation by the government is secured. Resources to generate an intellectual capital at all levels of management and administration are substantiated.

The understanding of the nature of the regional socio-economic system conception of self-conception under consideration in the rank of the Russian Federation is being developed. Adaptation is considered one of the key functions of self-developing system. Its implementation is determined by the internal resources of the system, external to the system of macro-economic backgrounds and value coordinates of the system. The concept of adaptive capacity is expanded, the criteria for its evaluation is summarized. We present a conceptual framework of methodical approach to evaluating the potential of the regional socio-economic system. In particular, the adaptive potential of isolated two components, each of which includes subpotentsialy, is highlighted. The results of calculating the adaptive capacity of the author's method on the example of Sverdlovsk region in the pre-crisis period 2006-2007. and the crisis period 2008-2009 are presented. The calculations allow us to estimate the adequacy of conducted anti-crisis measures.

This paper reviews socio-economic factors that cause the need for modernization of social development in the Russian Federation. Among the most significant ones, structural imbalances in the Russian economy and low efficiency of public administration system are identified. The authors have disclosed the nature and content of the modernization process. Taking into account the opinions of famous Russian scientists and economists, its implementation principles have been systematically identified and highlighted: 1) systematic and consistent solutions to problems of economic development; 2) targeted direction of the consolidation of Russian society; 3) socially and environmentally oriented development strategy; 4) scientific support of modernization; 5) improvement of regulatory and supervisory role of the state at all stages of modernization process. The paper specifies the shape and structural elements of modernization in Russia, including large-scale renovation of production through the formation of advanced sixth and seventh elements of technological structures, training of advanced specialists capable of servicing high-tech equipment; establishment of institutions of innovative development, formation of financial and credit sources for modernization. In conclusion, the authors justified theoretical and methodological approaches to evaluating the final result of modernization, the human development index is suggested to be used as the indicator.

This paper discloses peculiarities of forming the contribution of the region’s insurance sector into the gross regional product (GRP). The algorithm and the stages of cash flows transformation in the system of insurance, services reproduction and the GRP forming have been considered. It has been found that value added, which is formed at the stage of creating the insurance product, is quantitatively formed in the process of value distribution. Certain suggestions have been formulated to improve the methodology of contribution assessment of the “Financial Corporations” sector and the “Insurance Corporations and Pension Funds” subsection. The following main trends of increasing “the share of insurance in GRP” have been marked out: creating conditions for contributions to increase the number of resident insurance companies, mutual insurance societies and insurance mediators (insurance agents and brokers); making the techniques of more accurate GRP working out while combining these with perfecting statistical, accounting and tax reporting by the subjects of insurance; creating attractive investment conditions in the regions.

This paper shows the changes in theoretical and methodological approaches to the diagnosis of the economic security of the regions that have taken place over the last 20–25 years. This period covers a complex way, which Russia overcame since the beginning of perestroika, when the country faced two crises, surviving changing socio-economic structure and choosing the path of innovative development. The authors suggest that an assessment of the «health» of the regions in terms of economic security and the division into separate spheres is an effective methodological tool that allows not only ascertaining the state, but also looking into the future development. This paper, on the one hand, is a kind of report on the results of the Ural scientific school on the issues of economic security, on the other hand, it demonstrates the authors’ opinion (not always coinciding with other researchers') on this issue.

This paper reviews the evolution of scientific ideas about the regional economy as an independent direction of economic knowledge. The growing interest of scientists, university lecturers and specialists to the regional economy is noticed. The authors pay special attention to the origins of the regional economy, the contribution of Russian scientists to the disclosure of the content and nature of economic regionalization of the country as well as highlight the role of Soviet geographers and economists in developing the theory of clusters and the study of challenges to the rational distribution of production forces. It is emphasized that the new scientific discipline — regional economy — was born in the acute scientific discussions between Soviet geographers and economists, particularly regarding the subject of investigation. The conclusion is substantiated that so far in economic science four major views on the subject of understanding and interpretation of the regional economy were formed. The authors pay attention to the fact that at present there is a further extension of the subject of the regional economy, mainly over the border of the material space and location of productive forces. The paper concludes that the formation of a modern paradigm of regional economy should be based on several basic principles, among which are the following ones: consideration of the regional economy as an evolving complex structural discipline; territoriality as a dominant feature of any research in the regional economy; the imperative of any study that claims to belong to a regional economy is not only to establish general patterns of development and organization of economic life in the territory, but also the identification of its regional (local) specific.

Pro forma data for exploration of mineral raw material base of some territories Ural regions are given. Perspective trajectories of development of mineral raw complex of federal subjects Russia’s are characterized. On this basis are highlighted groups of region — saving, reducing, raising the level of raw specialization or diversifying own economy. Peculiarities of forecasting technological development in ore mining branches in the period of planned economy of the USSR are illustrated. Indexes of successfully working iron-ore open casts are given. The raise of internal Russian demand on raw is grounded, for which satisfaction are needed: corresponding tax policy for innovative production, corporate innovative policy, creating fund of supporting ore mining, commercialization of scientific products and working out rules in the sphere of scientific and technical progress. Peculiarities of technological development of ore mining branches of industry are emphasized: necessity of modernization of enterprises and exploration of deposits in regions with not enough developed infrastructure and opportunity of using new system approach by forecasting. The stages of effective exploration of deposits and the parameters of developing ore mining enterprises are found out. Components of forecast of technological development are analyzed. World tendencies of developing ore mining industry and basic directions of forecast of developing ore mining branches are given. New effective technologies being used in the ore mining are analyzed in detail.

The paper reviews geoecology as a science of lithosphere and biosphere interaction regarding socioeconomic human activity. Such interaction is more likely to take place when using mineral raw resources. This is characteristic of Urals Mining Complexes being a basis of region's economy. The place of geoecology in ecological science is specified. The geoecology structure with its main science subdivisions is developed. Fundamental principles of geoecology as a scientific discipline are defined. The research methodology for environmental technogenic transformation by Mining Complexes is considered, as well as tools, structural principles, forms, ways and methods of scientific enquiry. The approach to geo-ecological research in mining complexes is worked out, including assessment of a targeted object, background and environment. The research brought about the assessment of natural and economic damage under the influence of a mining complex.

In the article, an application of the approach, based on the methodology of the indicative analysis, to the modeling of a condition of the national wealth of the Russia’s regions is proved, its main advantages are shown. Research purposes are: to define a quality and development level of the national capital components of constituent territories of the Russian Federation (the natural and resource, physical and human capitals); and to identify the reasons of a developing situation; to define a contribution of each subject of the Russian Federation in the developing of the country’s national wealth; to contribute to the individual approach development of the management of components of the national capital for all the Russia’s regions. The methodic allowing to transform the different indicative indicators of various measure to a balance, and also to receive and differentiate integrated estimates of components of the national capital of each territorial subject of the Russian Federation according to the offered classification is given. As an example of the assessment results of the human capital of the constituent territories of the Russian Federation in 2011 (in the rating form) and diagrams of its changing for 2000-2011 in the Russian Federation’s subjects of the first and last places in rating are presented. The assessment mechanism of contribution of particular components of human capital to the development of its integrated assessment is given, and such opportunity is shown.

In the article, the critical role of the industrial policy in the economic development of any country is proved; it is shown that the economic policy is a mandatory attribute of the state participation in the definition of priorities, long-term goals and problems of the competitiveness increase solved in certain periods of socio-economic development of the state. A comparative analysis of the «industrial policy» concept created in foreign countries and national economy is carried out. The treatments of the «industrial policy» concept offered both in projects of legislative acts of Russia and in numerous publications are analysed. The author’s treatment of this concept is offered. Alternative approaches to develop the theoretical fundamentals of industrial policy are established. As a system framework of the modern industrial policy, the synthesis of provisions of the institutional classical theory, the theory of long-term technical and economic development, and economic synergetic is offered. Conditional stages of the industrial policy development in the world economy, proceeding from a ratio of interests of business and the population are noted. Sertain stages of industrial policy of Russia from 1989 to the present time with their meanings and received results are allocated. Regional aspects of industrial policy, its legislative provision are considered. Advantages and disadvantages of the project of the Federal Law «On Industrial Policy in the Russian Federation» are revealed (2014).

The article reflects the available information about the problem of development of the institutional framework of the innovative subsurface resource management in the Arctic zone, and the relevance of studies of this problem is proved, the interpretation of a number of terms of the study is defined. The main institutions, mechanisms, and instruments governing the innovative subsurface resource management are determined. Most important conventional institutional instruments of regulation are known to rigorously include regulatory support, program and project support, organizational support and financial support. A consistent approach to the assessment of the level of the institutional framework of the innovative subsurface resource management and its impact on socio-economic development of the regions of the arctic countries is produced. This paper estimates loss of profits caused by incomplete development of the institutional framework of the innovative subsurface resource management, which prevents the deployment of the mineral and resource potential of the Arctic zone. We propose the directions of possible Russian cooperation with arctic countries in order to improve the institutional framework of the innovative subsurface resource management in the Arctic.

In the article, the key stage of the value chain in the zinc industry of the Russian Federation is considered. The study aims to examine the impact of technological change on the development of value chains in the mining and metallurgical complex in the Urals region. The relevance of the assessment of the impact of technological change on the development of value chains in the processing of primary and technogenic raw materials in terms of the Ural Mining and Metallurgical Complex is grounded. The methodological scheme of analysis of value chains and the impact on them of new technologies are developed in the study. It is shown that the analysis of value chains should be carried out, using as an analytical tool value added as well as a heuristic tool study of the value chain. Analysis of the value chain in the production of primary zinc and technogenic raw materials made in accordance with the proposed approach. An assessment of the value added in the production of zinc from primary raw materials held in the article. The gross volume and dynamics of revenue, net income and the cost of segments of the value chain in zinc production are analyzed. The leading role of the metallurgical segment in the value chain of the zinc industry is established. Share indexes of the metallurgical segment as a control link of the value chain in the structure of the consolidated revenue, profit, cost considered in the dynamics, the dynamics of change in the total expenditure on scientific and technological development and R & D expenditure are investigated. The conclusion about essential influence of new technologies on the change of value chains in terms of zinc production is confirmed.

In the article, the problem of the methodological process support of regional tax benefits is reviewed. The method of tax benefits assessment, accepted in Perm Region, was chosen as an analysis object because the relatively long period of application of benefits has allowed to build enough statistics base. In the article, the reliability of budget, economic, investment, and social effectiveness assessments of application benefits, based on the Method, is investigated. The suggestions of its perfection are formulated.

Insufficient consideration or ignoring the spatial factor, as a rule, leads to serious errors in the management of socio-economic development of any economic object on macro, meso, mini- or micro level of the economy. Spot, formal representation of economic processes makes it impossible to take into account the diverse positive and negative impact on the development of the regions (especially regions, the transport component of production costs, etc.). It is well known old Russian proverb characterizing spatial factor: "Beyond the Sea heifer - mite, but the ruble ferry!". Simple human experience that are not taken into account the spatial factor in economic management is impossible. This is even more true in the management of the development of a large regional socio-economic system of rank economic area or the Federal District.

In the article, the attention is paid to a role of service-producing industries rendering social services, promoting human development in the modern state. Theoretical positions of scientists considering meaning of the social benefits and need of active state support of the social sphere are generalized. The condition of the Russian service-producing industries is considered, the comparative analysis of indicators of their activity with indicators of service-producing industries of other countries is carried out. In view of indicators of the efficiency ratings of national education systems, world countries on the health systems efficiency, world countries on the level of social development of 2014, the author’s conceptual approach is offered; it considers interconditionality and interdependence of level of public financing of the social sphere and dynamics of a contribution of service-producing industries to the human capital development providing a gain of gross domestic product of the country. Need of innovative changes in socio-economic systems of service-producing industries for the efficiency increase of their activity, taking into account the received results — first of all in health care is proved. Theoretical approaches to management of changes in socio-economic systems are investigated. On the basis of the conducted research, the created theoretical basis of the level increase of change management in open socioeconomic systems for the purpose of the theoretical and methodological approaches to development to change management in relation to health sector, the optimization model of management of health care organizations ranging controlled and uncontrollable changes is offered. The use possibilities of management optimization by ranging controlled and uncontrollable changes in health sector of different management levels are confirmed by the high rates of performance efficiency on micro-, meso- and macrolevel in industry on the example of implementation of national project Health and innovative organizational transformations promoting the return to work of the patients of working-age participating in development of gross domestic product across Yekaterinburg.

In the article, the essential and formalized definition of the potential of the territory is proved; its innovative part in the “subjectprocess-object” approach to its essential content and impact assessment is determined. The system of mechanisms and institutes of building the regional and territorial innovative potential is elaborated, the most productive directions of its using in the interests of spatial socio-economic development are allocated. Problems of high priority and requiring solutions that are able to increase the effectiveness of territory functioning are identified. The mentioned problems found their reflection and possible solutions at the Gaidar International Economic Forum in Moscow (2015) and at the representative XII Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum, as reflected by the analyses of some forum’s speeches presented in the paper. The shift of priorities in innovative global development during the second part of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century is shown. The results of research and practice of utilizing innovative solutions for the development of some collectives and territories, the spatial structure of regions and the Russian Federation as a whole are investigated and generalized in this paper. The development of the territory and its potential depends on different factors, but the growth of knowledge, intellectual resource and involvement of the population into management process by development and realization of different programs and projects plays the increasing role in current conditions. In the article, the positive sides of the business-project as the main mechanism of the program and project implementation with utilizing market institutes of the public-private partnership (PPP) are analyzed. The role of collectives and the population in the increase of innovative activity and system territory development is assessed.

In the article, the task to evaluate the condition of the Russian economy amid slumping energy prices and «exchange of sanctions» is addressed. It also aimes to define the priority directions of the economic policy of the Russian Federation as the full-service institutions capable to maintain the stability and consistency of development. The process of ensuring the spatial structure development of the Russian territories by means of involvement in the development processes the regional and municipal opportunities is offered to initiate with the optimization of the inter-budgetary relations of «municipality — region — federal centre.» All Russian citizens are recommended to treat more strictly and more responsibly the Constitution as the Basic Law supported by the populace and defining the strategic development priorities of the country on a long-term outlook. The methodology of the optimization of the inter-budgetary relations between the Federation, its subjects and municipalities is proved by the evidence-based delineation of powers and responsibility of each level for socio-economic results of work. It is offered to develop the national plan of socio-economic and social development engaging in work the experts and public; its main priorities have to be the improvement of the quality and productivity of the public administration and the spatial structure of the Russian territories. The mechanisms and institutions that help to involve the regions and territories to the implementation of the national plan are proved. The findings and recommendations offered in the paper may be used by the federal authorities in the development and adoption of laws and other regulations on the distribution of authority and optimization of the budgetary process. They are also may be useful for the regional and municipal authorities for the planning and development of the regional spatial structure.

The generalization and systematisation of the literature on the history of reforms accumulated for twenty years allow to organise the ideas of the transformations processes and to set a new vector of understanding the socio-economic development of Russia in the last decade of the 20th century — the first decades of 21st century. The first step is the analysis of the publications reflecting the preparation, a course and results of a modern economic reform in the 1990th. The historiographical review includes the monographs written by both apologists of «shock therapy», and their opponents and critics, first of all by Academicians of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This literature analysis reveals the range of opinions concerning the preference of a «shock» variant of transformations, the assessment of the results of the reform by the end of the 1990th and the possibilities of the alternative ways of transition from the planned to the market economy. In particular, the apologists of «shock therapy» refer to the threat of hunger and civil war to justify the decisions, which have caused the decline in production, a hyperinflation and other negative tendencies. Their critics note that a lack of the support of the population has caused a failure of market transformations. While recognizing the obvious, that is an essential deterioration of economic indicators, the apologists see their success in the development of a system of market institutions and consequently, insist that there was no alternative to the realized reform. In turn, their opponents believe that there were the alternatives of «shock therapy», and the gradual cultivation of the institutions of the market economy would be their distinctive feature, but not their introduction by the administrative order.