The study of economic dynamics and growth factors that form potential and real GDP is an essential condition for justifying the ways for the Russian economy to surpass the world’s average growth rate. This suggests the use of reliable and representative statistics and models that include both general economic variables and factors, and factors specific for the Russian economy in its current state. The authors outline problems of constructing a factor model corresponding to the specifics of the Russian economy and assessing the impact of factors on economic growth, primarily on the dynamics of the potential GDP. The composition of the potential GDP growth factors is substantiated. The role of conjuncture factors in supporting the growth is determined, for the most part due to internal causes. An accounting method for the innovation factor based on evaluation of the innovation fund and its contribution to economic growth is proposed. The article shows that at the turn of the 2000s and 2010s, and to a greater extent - after 2012, when the economy entered the last cyclical crisis, the structure of economic growth factors has been significantly changing. The article describes characteristics of the rebound from cyclical recession, which is currently being recorded. This creates conditions for a new cyclical upturn, which can be supported by the corresponding economic policy. The choice of economic growth factors in mid-term perspective is argued.

This article presents sampling methodology for micro-entities survey by economic activity, problems associated with introducing sample surveys of enterprises into official statistical practice (on the example of the CIS countries). There is an analysis of the potential use of random samples without stratification, simple, proportional, optimal allocation, systematic, cluster samples. The following approaches to formation of multivariate sample design are summarized: typified, multiple sampling frames, stratification by a composite variable, combined methods. The author considers the sample of micro-enterprises that includes selection algorithm for enterprises, determining optimal sample size by economic activities and regions. HT-, GREG-, and SIN- estimators are recommended for statistical weighing. It is proposed to use a combination of univariate and multivariate samples, multivariant statistical weighting.

The authors used statistical methods to analyze trends in the Russian labor market over the past 10 years. In the introductory part of the article it is noted that changes and shifts in the structure of employment and changes in the average nominal wage were developed amid quasi-equilibrium labour market. Furthermore, the article establishes the most general trends in the labour market, describes time-series of average wage of employees by economic activities, supply and demand in the labour market and shows how they influence current economic situation in the country. The authors argue that imbalance in supply and demand for the labour force manifests in two key aspects. Firstly, there is a significant share of unemployed economically active citizens in the Russian economy, at the same time there is an acute shortage of specialists and workers. Secondly, according to the authors, supply and demand for labor within individual industries are also imbalanced. It is concluded that existing trends actively hamper the expansion of new science-intensive technologies, and the labor market needs additional regulation that can eliminate the influence of existing systemic contradictions and ensure an effective employment structure.

In this article using statistical methods and data from national statistics, is analyzed and studied emigration of Russian citizens abroad for permanent residence. The authors paid a lot of attention to major modern emigration trends, structure of the upstream and main destinations. The study showed that the data of official Russian statistics make it possible to assess the composition of outmigrants: structure by sex and age, education, citizenship, reasons for departure in terms of the related questions, regional specificities of migration, its volume and direction. However, statistical observation of emigration covers only a part of those leaving for permanent residence. Furthermore, on the basis of data from Rosstat, the authors conclude that relatively high emigration indicators are observed in the border regions, as well as in constituent entities with positive macroeconomic indicators. Economic and statistical analysis supports the hypothesis that minimal emigration intensity indicators presented in certain regions, for example, in republics of the North Caucasus, are not common for migration in Russia in general.

This article covers the authors’ projections for 2017-2018 for the selected individual socio-economic and macroeconomic indicators of the real economy (first and foremost, indicators of primarily industrial production, agriculture, capital construction, other industrial complexes, as well as crucial industries and areas of activities in their composition) based on the analysis of time series of socio-economic development of Russia over the past 10 years. The paper presents a comparative analysis of Russian and global economic development trends in the GDP dynamics and other significant macroeconomic indicators. The authors also focus on the questions of implementation of the budgetary, monetary, industrial, investment policies, the role of which is becoming more and more essential amid the intensification of international sanctions and Russia’s counter-sanctions. In that regard, there are the characteristics of the actual and predicted GDP dynamics for the next year, real incomes of population, investment and consumer activity, internal and external trade turnover. The article reviews fundamentals that drive structural transformation of the economy, transition to a results-based management principle, implementing priority projects and state programmes, using project funding mechanisms, exports and imports of high-tech goods and services. Factors promoting macroeconomic development are considered.

To analyze the economic growth, the ratio of aggregate supply and demand, expansions and contractions in economic activity, there is a need for information on how much the current total output differs from its potential level. The appropriate measures of monetary policies, namely: consolidation or stimulation to smooth out the fluctuations of macroeconomic development, depend on whether the economic aggregate is growing above or below its potential level. Under the neo-Keynesian economic theory, it is assumed that such an unobserved component in the dynamics of the gross domestic product as a long-term potential level corresponds to an equilibrium of the price level while its short-term gaps with real dynamics reflect the processes of price and income adaptation to shocks. The article explores the concept of potential level and short-term gaps in economic growth as well as an algorithm to calculate them using the production function (the Cobb-Douglas specification). The results of an empirical assessment of the potential level and shortterm gaps in the dynamics of Russian gross domestic product for 2006-2016 are presented. Based on the results obtained, the authors determined the amplitude and vector of the actual aggregate output deviations from the potential capabilities of the economy, formulated the factors that contributed to reducing the output potential level and measures that can strengthen the national economic growth. Since mid-2014, the negative output gap corresponded to crisis phenomena when labour and capital were not fully used. The negative nature of the speed regime of the Russian economy can be changed only through those structural reforms that will be conducted thoughtfully, consistently and in accordance with additional support the development of new knowledge, products and technologies.

In this article the scale and dynamics of ecological crimes in the Russian Federation are examined on the basis of the review of national studies and official statistics. Analysis and presentation of study results precede the author’s interpretation of the concept of «ecological crime». The author comments on the progress data that together give a certain idea of the environmental crime statistics. It is shown that the share of environmental crimes in the total number of crimes is growing. Environmental crimes demonstrate high latency and a lack of efficiency  when it comes to the ongoing criminal policy. Reasons for the latency of  environmental crime are commented on. It is argued that the increase  in the scale of environmental crimes, their high latency reflect the ineffectiveness of the current criminal policy.

To analyze the economic growth, the ratio of aggregate supply and demand, expansions and contractions in economic activity, we need information on how much the current total output differs from its potential level. The appropriate measures of monetary policies – consolidation or stimulation to smooth out the fluctuations of macroeconomic development – depend on whether the economic aggregate is growing above or below its potential level.

Under the neo-Keynesian economic theory, it is assumed that such an unobserved component in the dynamics of the gross domestic product as a long-term potential level corresponds to an equilibrium of the price level while its short-term gaps with real dynamics reflect the processes of price and income adaptation to shocks.

The article explores the concept of potential level and short-term gaps in economic growth as well as an algorithm to calculate them using the production function (the Cobb-Douglas specification). The results of an empirical assessment of the potential level and short-term gaps in the dynamics of Russian gross domestic product for 2006-2016 are presented. Based on the results obtained, one determined the amplitude and vector of the actual aggregate output deviations from the potential capabilities of the economy, formulated the factors contributed to reducing the output potential level and measures that can strengthen the national economic growth.

Beginning in mid-2014, the negative output gap corresponded to crisis phenomena when labour and capital were not fully used. The negative nature of the "speed regime" of the Russian economy can be changed only through those structural reforms that will be conducted in a thoughtful sequence and in accordance with additional support the development of new knowledge, products and technologies.