This article focuses on systemic research of fundamental issues associated with the cognition of information as a global phenomenon, which predetermines, in particular, the trends of statistics development. The author closely considers basic technologies of information cognition; generalizes philosophical practices aimed at comprehension of the essence of information in case studies and corresponding developments of psychophysiologists and cognitologists. The definition of information, as it was formulated by the founders of cybernetics and the general theory of information, is characterized. Analytical generalization serves as a basis for tracking the evolution of the information concept, changes in understanding of its contents, role and the place of information in the cognition of processes in nature and society.

It is emphasized that the concept of information itself (as an attributed quality) should be separated from the concept of data («read» or consumed information). This cognitive platform shows the features of the organization of global information processes, as well as socio-economic information and principles of its reflection in statistics. Considering statistics as a cognitive system, the author cites the results of analogous studies of information movement in a person in the process of his cognitive and brain activity with the system of organizing information flows during statistical observation.

The author explores general organizing principles of information flows in the process of cognition, as well as the contradictions to the cognitive ability of statistics as a science. Particular attention is paid to aspects of boosting the efficiency of statistics as a practical activity at the data presentation phase by including cognitive properties of the human brain in the process of consuming the information. Proposals for developing perspective formats to present statistical information are formulated. The paper reveals development directions for cognitive technology-based statistical information and for compiling cognitive statistics on this basis. The convergence of cognitive technologies with information and communication technologies, according to the author, is a strategic tool for creating a new architecture of statistics. 

This article is devoted to the highly relevant problem of increasing the accuracy of forecasting time series by combining particular forecasts. Forecasting usually uses only one method, while all the information that is contained in other forecasting methods is discarded. Combining forecasts makes it possible to use almost all information contained in particular forecasts. The article describes some most common methods of combining forecasts: two modifications of the Granger-Ramanathan method (without restrictions and with restrictions on the sum of the coefficients for particular forecasts), the method of the pair preference matrix, and the method of linear combination of particular forecasts with different weights.

Authors use the following frequently used time series prediction methods to obtain particular forecasts: the harmonic weights method, the method of adaptive exponential smoothing using the tracking signal, the conventional exponential smoothing method and the Box-Jenkins model.

This analysis is based on production history of several products manufactured in Russia in 1950–2015: the production of electricity; extraction of hard coal; crude oil production; extraction of natural gas; manufacture of metal-cutting machine tools; meat production; production of vegetable oil. The authors carried out comparative analysis of the statistical characteristics of different combined forecasts. Also, the authors calculated the forecast for each of the indicators for 2016 and compared it with the actual data.

The following conclusions were obtained. The combined forecast has a higher accuracy of forecasting time series. Forecasts constructed using the Granger-Ramanathan approaches have the greatest accuracy of the combined forecast. 

This paper investigates the problem of balanced nutrition as basis of the health status of the population and an important component of ensuring the country’s food security in terms of achieving norms of rational food consumption. Based on the data of Budgetary household surveys conducted by Rosstat in 1992-2014 the dynamics of the structure of household’s consumption of basic food products, as well as the energy and nutritional value of rations was analyzed. Since the 1990s the structure of population nutrition has undergone significant changes. However, to date, the consumption rate of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, eggs, recommended by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, have not been achieved. At the same time, norms of sugar and fat consumption are significantly exceeded. The existing diet of Russians increases the risk of developing non-infectious diseases (cardiovascular diseases, oncology, etc.), which are the main causes of death in the Russian Federation.

Using the data of selective observation of the population’s diet in 2013, the determinants of the irrational structure of the population’s nutrition were studied at the micro level. On the basis of logit models, the factors and quantitative estimates of their influence on exceeding the norms of sugar, fat consumption, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables were determined. Indicators of age, gender, marital status, type of settlement, level of education, number of children in the household and financial position were marked as significant determinants. Respondents of over 60 years old, as well as large families have a high probability of inadequate levels of consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Based on these findings, practical recommendations for improving the diet of the population were proposed. This analysis and the methodology used will contribute to the development of a monitoring system for the implementation of the national project «Health and the Doctrine of Food Security of the Russian Federation in the context of achieving rational norms of the food consumption. 

As it is generally known, market of cutting edge technological devices (smartphones, tabs, etc.) is one of the most dynamic, competitive and knowledge intensive market in world. Thanks to that, market leaders always have to chase the latest tendencies and trends, in order to be in sync with consumers’ preferences. In this article authors present their study, conducted in 2016 year and focused on consumers’ preferences in Moscow smartphone market. In order to obtain information about such preferences, authors used Google Forms platform. This platform, being able to conduct audience survey, provided authors with reliable information, answering the three types of questions: social-demographic; questions focused on respondents’ consumer attitude to smartphones and their intended use and cluster allowing to simulate the optimal combination of smartphone characteristics when choosing its model by a consumer.

Generally, this audience survey, designed by authors as a questionnaire, divides all the questions, described above, into two following blocks: first block contains general social-demographic questions such as respondent’s sex, age, marital status, professional specialty and work experience, while the second block includes respondents’ individual preferences in smartphones’ choice. Using both parts of the survey, authors made a full processing of the data obtained and then conducted conjoint analysis of consumers’ choice. The conducted study allowed to identify the most influential factors on the Muscovites’ choice of smartphones’ functions and their target use. For instance, for 73% of respondents questioned camera was the most valuable function of a smartphone, while 64% of them permanently use their smartphones for Internet communications. The authors also found the statistically proven dependence between the frequency and length of smartphone’s use and social-demographic factors. In addition to the abovementioned analysis, authors presented and described the structure of respondents’ preferences.

In the course of this study the authors managed to gather a large amount of source data that allows comprehensive analysis of the target field. In conclusion, it is necessary to add that the obtained results may be useful for market players of cutting edge technological devices and for anyone, interested in information technologies development in modern society. 

The article presents the results of the mathematical and statistical modeling of GRP production in the regions of the Russian North and the Arctic, using various models of production functions, and substantiates the prospects for further research. The experience of econometric modeling based on real statistics shows that the diversity of economies in the North and the Arctic regions warrants the search for the best model variations that sufficiently describe economic processes in the these particular regions. When modeling the GRP production, were used volume indices, which made it possible to level out the impact of inflation and price conjuncture on world markets. This is especially important when investigating the production processes of the constituent entities of the North and the Arctic, economy of which is based on the extraction and processing of natural resources.

Methodical features have been discussed and econometric models have been constructed for GRP production in the regions of the North and the Arctic in three variants: 1) multiplicative production function; 2) a special case of the multiplicative production function is a function of the Cobb-Douglas type; 3) the production function CES (Constant Elasticity Substitution), characterized by a constant elasticity of substitution.

For the Arkhangelsk region, the Nenets, the Yamal-Nenets autonomous areas, the Sakhalin region and the Russian Federation, in general, have been identified models that best describe the impact of production factors on the final results of economic performance.

The main perspectives of fundamental research are associated with the expansion of the application of other models for production functions and the search for indicators that better describe the actual dynamics of GRP production in the regions of the North, the Arctic and the Russian Federation as a whole. 

This paper presents the study of formation process, structure and dynamics of the gross regional product (GRP) of the Voronezh region. For the majority of countries with federal structure study of value added formation processes and distribution at the regional level is a prerequisite for effective management of territorial economies. The GRP can be considered as a generalizing parametric characteristic of the economic development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

The authors focus on the study of the GRP dynamics over a long period of time - from 2005 to 2015 and discuss both absolute and per capita values. The article demonstrates analytical potential of interregional comparisons on the basis of the GRP of the Russian constituent entities within the Central federal district (CFD), as well as their values for the Voronezh region and the median for the CFD. In order to standardize the information array and to normalize the distribution of variables special statistical procedures were applied.

Centerpiece of the article is the GRP structure analysis for the Voronezh region, when the GRP is structured as follows: by items (gross profit, and costs of hired labour) and by activity. Based on the perceptions of analytical potential of the conceptual model for the factors of production, the conclusion is made about the predominant contribution of capital to value added creation in the region.

Dynamics of the GRP structure is studied by means of integral coefficients of structural differences, as well as the coefficient of uneven distribution. Generation of the gross regional product of the Voronezh region and its dynamics are analyzed with the help of elements of the production account (both in current prices and in physical terms). A conclusion is made about quite noticeable changes in the structure of GRP use over the considered period of time. 

The article examines various aspects and components of one of the most complex and multifaceted problems, regarding the comprehension of the role of statistical education and the possibilities of its development in modern Russia. The obvious underestimation of the role of statistics in the life of Russian society and, as a consequence, the low statistical literacy of officials, managers of various levels, politicians and ordinary citizens testify to the urgent need for further improvement of statistical education. In this context, the authors find that, a great scientific and practical interest provokes a comprehensive analysis of the obstacles and difficulties while facing this process.

In article the complex characteristic of the conditions and major factors defining both the current state, and possibilities of development of statistical education is given, it identifies organizational barriers that clearly indicate the intensification of the process of curtailing statistical education and training of statistical staff in our country. The article also highlights the topical and most important problems of the development of statistical science forming prerequisites for destruction not only the statistics as a special branch of public activity, but also of its subject area. In this regard, it seems that at present it is more appropriate to talk not about the prospects for the development of statistical education, but about the need of preservation of the Russian school of statistics in general, its glorious traditions and achievements.