Modern approach to the food security of Russia

This article considers problems such as the definition of food security and the inclusion of food independence in this concept. The conclusion has been drawn that there have been no major threats to the Russian market from the global food market. Alternative definitions and classifications of the standing of the agricultural foods system have been suggested.     

Problems of residential heat supply in Russia

The paper analyzes the residential heat supply in the country in 2000–2009. Russia’s transition to a market economy has caused a negative heat supply of households receiving heat from district heating (DH) systems, which significantly reduces the population’s living standard. The regional DH systems built under the planned economy do not meet the conditions of today’s realities and must undergo substantial organizational, technical, and technological reorganization for the benefit of the main consumers of heat energy, i.e., the population and social area. Measures for heat supply reorganization are suggested.     

Problems in estimating income differences in contemporary Russia

The paper analyzes various approaches used in calculating the income distribution of the Russian population. It describes a distribution model which uses special functions to adjust per capita income and expenditure data for HBI 5-percent groups to analogous indicators describing the balance of cash income and expenditure. Based on this model experimental calculations of the income distributions of the populations of Russia as a whole and of four of its constituent members were made.     

Cereal stocks,food aid and food security for the poor

This paper reviews recent events in world cereals markets, and argues that a significant proportion of the 1972–74 price increases resulted essentially from panic buying by a number of governments which controlled their countries' grain trade. Under these circumstances, a price stabilizing buffer stock would be beneficial, especially for poor countries in conjunction with food aid and emergency relief provisions. However, major producer countries might well lose from price stabilization, and may stand in the way of international agreement on buffer stocks.     

Educational credit in Russia: Problems and prospects

The paper analyzes problems and prospects of education crediting in Russia, sums up the author’s personal experience of participation in the development and management of the education crediting system within the framework of a private business initiative (the Credo program), as well as in various working groups (at the Russian Federation State Duma, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, etc.) set up to discuss opportunities and to work out recommendations for the development of educational credit in the Russian Federation.     

Global food crisis and prospects for animal production in Russia

The paper considers certain tendencies and features in the development of world and national food markets during the global crisis of recent years. It shows the role and place of Russia in these processes. Using the case study of animal production, in particular, of beef, a number of key factors are examined that should enhance the competitiveness in Russian agrarian products, in substituting for imports, and the rise in food prices     

Problems and prospects of special economic zones in Russia

This article provides an evaluation of the efficiency of special economic zones in Russia for the 10 years since their establishment. An analysis of the possible courses of their development has been given. Approaches to models of SEZ administration and financing have been reconsidered.     

Using climate models to improve Indonesian food security

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events exert significant influence on Southeast Asian rice output and markets. This paper measures ENSO effects on Indonesia's national and regional rice production and on world rice prices, using the August Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) to gauge climate variability. It shows that each degree Celsius change in the August SSTA produces a 1,318,000 metric ton effect on output and a $21/metric ton change in the world price for lower quality rice. Of the inter-annual production changes due to SSTA variation, 90% occur within 12 provinces, notably Java and South Sulawesi. New data and models offer opportunities to understand the agricultural effects of ENSO events, to reach early consensus on coming ENSO effects, and to use forecasting to improve agencies' and individuals' capacity to mitigate climate effects on food security. We propose that Indonesia hold an ‘ENSO summit’ each September to analyse the food-security implications of upcoming climate events.     

粮食安全的经济法保护研究

粮食问题是我国经济社会发展所面临的首要基础问题,保障粮食安全对保障国内经济安全具有重要意义。经济法在维护市场秩序、克服市场失灵方面具有得天独厚的优势,文章指出应当从经济法维度对粮食市场运行加以规制。应当加快制定粮食安全综合性立法、健全法律政策体系、加大农业资金投入和健全粮食市场供销体系,维护我国粮食安全。     

Problems of information support for predicting labor migration in Russia

The main sources of information for the study of labor migration are discussed, as well as foreign experience in conducting surveys and application applying other sources of migration data. We propose methodological approaches to organizing a household survey to obtain information on labor migration including identification and selection of respondents and determination of basic sets of questions for the survey questionnaire.     

Food security of Bashkortostan: Problems and solutions

This article considers the fulfillment of the regional market of Bashkortostan with domestic farming products compared with the average figures across Russia. The analysis covers the foreign trade balance of basic farming goods and food regimens of households by product supply with regard to balanced norms. The main suppliers of import-substituting stock are determined, as well as the key problems of their government support and the main domestic reserves of producers of farming goods.     

Environmental and socio-economic factors behind food security policy strategies in Botswana

This article examines the environmental and socio-economic factors influencing food security policy strategies in Botswana. First, the article provides the conceptual background to the magnitude of the issue of food production and security in southern Africa. Secondly, the physical and human environmental parameters influencing food production strategies are elucidated. Thirdly, issues of agricultural production-oriented ideology, including food self-sufficiency and security, food production and consumption trends, food insecurity and nutritional status of population are outlined. Fourthly, strategies for improving availability of and access to food, including policy intervention for food security, are discussed. Finally, the article outlines the findings of study of food security which point to the adoption of agricultural production technologies, extension expertise and provision of financial assistance to farmers. Successes in expanding food production and consumption, and in reducing production fluctuations to minimise dependence on food aid, require improvement in regional infrastructure to facilitate intraregional trade and flows of food from surplus to deficit areas in Botswana.     

美农业部长谈中美食品安全问题

“三聚氰胺事件”让食品安全问题再一次成为中国消费者的心头之痛,也成为世界关注的焦点。美国农业部部长爱德华·谢弗在接受《新财经》记者的采访中介绍了美国的一些做法。他山之石,可以攻玉。美国的做法为中国提供了一些参考。正如谢弗所说,让消费者对食品安全树立信心,是一个漫长的过程。正因为漫长,我们的监管部门和生产企业,就更应该行动起来,从源头上保障食品安全。     

Problems and prospects for the development of high-technology cardiology in Russia

This paper describes the role of high-technology cardiology in overcoming the phenomenon of supermortality due to diseases of the circulatory system. The authors attempt a systemic analysis of the barriers constraining progress in this area of medicine in the Russian Federation and offer a preliminary assessment of the potential for growth in high-technology cardiology services, along with characterizing the key conceptual elements of a development strategy and the problems that might arise during its design and implementation.     

Problems of peasant farms and their importance for Modern Russia

This article analyzes the development of peasant farms from 1990 to the present time and ascertains their increased share in the agricultural production and importance in the development of remote territories with small populations. An emphasis is put on the need for more state support for farming in remote areas of Russia, in particular, in Siberia and the Far East, near-border areas, and outposts of sparsely settled territories.     

关于构建我国粮食安全评估指标体系的思考

<正>一、现行粮食安全评估指标体系有待改进粮食安全不仅是保证人们生存和健康的需要,而且是保证一个国家经济和社会稳定发展的基本保证。一个国家的粮食是否安全,需要进行科学的评估。目前国内外有一些关于粮食安全评估方面的研     

Methodological Problems of the Formation of the Concept of Food Security in Russia

In the article, the existing approaches to the definition of food security are considered, and their structure analyzed. The logic of the evolution of the concept of food security in the socio-economic development of the country is described, the actual directions of its adjustment in the Russian Federation are justified.     

Evaluation of economic crises using short-term indexes and average indexes of economic security of Russia

A system of short-term indicators of economic security of Russia has been suggested for possible use in predicting the origin of crises. A comparative analysis of the 1998–1999, 2008–2009, and 2014–2015 crises has been performed. The formative premises of the crises and their impact on financial sector, real economy, foreign trade, and social welfare have been considered. A technique of synthesizing average indexes in different projections of economic security system has been suggested, and the particularities of their joint combined dynamics have been considered.     

The challenges facing empirical estimation of household food (in)security in South Africa

This paper sets out to describe current principle theoretical positions in food security research, describe and compare empirical South African food security studies with key international methodologies and pose research challenges for food security research in the country. Scant available food security studies for South Africa seem to indicate that food insecurity and hunger exist and are likely to increase due to increasing food price trends, greater reliance on cash food purchases and spiralling vulnerability as a result of HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. Empirical research is urgently needed to determine the coping strategies of households under ‘normal’ conditions, identify vulnerable households, and monitor the impact of various shocks and stresses on household food security.     

Food security and structural adjustment: Empirical evidence on the food price dilemma in Southern Africa

This article considers effects of price on food security and the food equation in the developing areas of South Africa. Firstly, the food (or hunger) equation is examined in more detail. Secondly, thefood price dilemma is analysed using empirical data obtained elsewhere in sub‐Saharan Africa. Thirdly, the situation in the developing areas of South Africa is examined. Empirical evidence in sub‐Saharan and Southern Africa accentuates the skewness and concentration in the market participation profile of rural households with respect to especially staples. Supply response to higher prices in these areas is also limited. These findings place the food price dilemma on centre stage in Southern Africa.