In this article the author summarizes the experience and considers objectives for applying factor and interindustry models to economic analysis and forecasting. First section reviews this topic in general, the following sections focus on main goals and challenges in the application of these models and their solutions. Among them are analyzed the following points: methods for macroeconomic assessment and forecasting potential growth, input of the investment, infrastructural and innovation factors of economic development, methods for evaluating macroeconomic impacts from undertaking large investment projects, questions of creating target development scenarios. The article analyses current goals and issues that are addressed by using models of interindustry balance.

The author considers the role of the volume index of gross regional product (GRP) in the general system of macroeconomic statistics used to formulate socio-economic regional policy. Special attention is given to problems associated with the computation of this index at the regional level.

Implementing the double-deflation method for the estimation of gross value added of industries in constant prices, used in calculating gross domestic product (GDP), at the regional level requires the solution of complex information problems. The method of deflation of the components of the final use of GDP cannot be applied to the regional level because gross regional product is not computed by final use method. As a result, there is a need to search for simplified methods, which would approximate the required estimate.

The article contains a description of the experimental alternative computation of volume index of gross regional product for Moscow for the period from 2011 to 2016. The obtained estimates are on the whole consistent with the published figures, add to them and can be used for control purpose.

The authors developed and validated the methodological approach to the assessment of gaps between the officially registered supply and demand of labour in Russian regions and the structure of labour force supply on the regional labour market in general and by occupational groups in line with the Russian Classification of Occupations (RCO). These two tasks were completed separately as applied to the officially registered labour market and the labour market in the region as a whole. In the former case, data from the federal statistical form № 2-T “The data on state services to support employment (hiring)” was used as a source of information. Based on the pilot estimates, the classification of the 17 subjects (constituent entities) of the Russian Federation covered by statistical data of labour surplus and deficit on the regional level and in urban districts and rural areas was developed. In addition, deficit and surplus occupational groups were established. In the latter case, to assess the labour supply structure in accordance with occupational groups authors used materials from the national Labour Force Survey (LFS). Gross labour market supply, including, the total number unemployed, employed seeking for an alternative or a side job, as well as, unemployed desiring work, was assessed. In view of the LFS data, the article also covered respondents’ means of job search and ways of getting employment. The article findings should encourage researchers to analyze regional labour market further and help the government officials to improve the functioning of the state employment offices

The article covers the environmental-economic system (with reference to agricultural production) as an object of statistical research on the relationship between the natural environment and economic activity. In this regard, a brief set of indicators characterizing the state of the environment, agricultural production, as well as their interrelation has been developed and presented. At the same time, the environmentaleconomic system of agriculture in Russia is characterized by land and water resources.

While studying the regional differentiation the author proposes considering the climatic factors. To this end, the developed system of indicators reflecting environmental-economic parameters of agriculture served as a basis of the study of the influence of climatic factors. Its results were compared with similar parameters without regard to the climatic factors. It is noted that without preliminary regional differentiation according to weather and climatic conditions, it is rather difficult not only to objectively analyze general patterns but also to identify crucial factors influencing managerial decision-making.

The article opens with the concept of «entrepreneurial activity» and further explains its relevance, in view of the role of entrepreneurship in this era and its future importance for the science and technology, economics and society. The authors emphasize the need to improve statistical research tools for studying entrepreneurial activity based on harmonized international statistical standards adapted to the Russian context.

The information and statistical aspect of the study of entrepreneurial activity (in particular the Statistical Register of Business Entities of the Federal State Statistics Service) and the results of pilot project on the development of business demography indicators are analyzed. The indicators characterizing entrepreneurial activity are listed, their content and formulas, the primary source of data are discussed. Then the authors commented on data on birth rates and the scale of the official liquidation of entrepreneurial objects, entrepreneurial activity of enterprises by type of economic activity, the dynamics of individual and national characteristics of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of entrepreneurial intentions, the level of entrepreneurial activity. The countries are rated by the level of entrepreneurial activity by selected factors of competitiveness (resources, borrowed current technologies, innovations).

This article discusses population’s overweight as one of the top-priority problems both for public health and national economy in many countries in the past several decades. The authors comment on the studies that estimate the substantial growth of the number of overweight people and persons suffering from obesity that bring to light socio-economic causes and consequences of this phenomenon. The overweight impacts are explored as the costs for all economic agents: individuals, companies (employers) and the government.

This article presents the descriptive analysis based on two representative population surveys held by Levada-Center in 2011 and 2017. These results proved uptrend of population overweight in Russia as in many other countries. The correlations were found between overweight and the following socio-economic factors: education, marriage and employment status of individual. Overweight is also associated with higher medical spending and work absenteeism, which indicates a variety of large-scale economic losses.

The authors attempted to explain and outline their point of view on statistical literacy and how it should be an essential requirement when assessing the quality of professional training amidst the rapid development of the digital economy. The paper examines two groups of questions: digital economy as a social development vector and a place of statistics within the digital economy.

The article emphasizes the features of the digital economy as a defining vector of transformation of almost all parameters of modern society; it analyzes not only the benefits, but also new challenges that arise in the process of digitalization of production and management activities. Much attention is given to examining the role and place of statistical science and practice within the framework of the economy based on the widespread use of digital technologies. At the same time, the authors consider issues arising from the need to actively integrate statistics and statistical education into the depths of the digital economy so that a new generation of employees would freely possess the tools for a comprehensive assessment of the rates, results and consequences of digitalization of economic relations. The evidence is given regarding the fact that the analytical skills of specialists in the digital economy cannot not be linked with the statistical literacy of absolutely any personnel (economists, managers, marketers, lawyers, etc.), since the indicators of the digital economy do not simply reflect the content of the new stage of development societies, but are the key to unlocking the evolutionary characteristics of our civilization.

In the final part of the article, the authors conclude that, essentially, the formation of statistical literacy in a country should be one of the most important targets in the training of modern personnel for the digital economy, without which it is practically impossible to achieve a significant increase in the efficiency of social production, which is declared as the single condition of a conscious transition of Russia to the rails of digital technology.