Economic

Introduction. Despite the increasing interest of researchers to the phenomenon of benefits package, its nature and essence, motivational potential, correlation with other categories to characterize payments and rewards received by employees, remain poorly studied. Purpose. to study the essence of the «benefits package» category and the practice of its benefits providing to employees in Ukrainian companies (by means of questioning). Results. The nature of the «benefits package» category and the employers’ reasons of giving benefits to employees were studied. The dialectics of the social and economic nature of the benefits is substantiated. The inclusion of some options into the benefits package is justified as unreasonable. The study revealed that only 63% of companies provided benefits to their employees. Many employers begin realizing the importance of such benefits to increase the loyalty and motivation of their employees. However, employees’ needs and interests may not always be considered during the development of benefits packages. Conclusion. An important direction of transformation of the personnel motivation practice at Ukrainian companies is increasing the quantity of benefits in compensation packages. It is necessary to consider the interests and needs of employees.

Introduction. The process of interaction of economic subjects of the national innovative system proceeds in the conditions of uncertainty at any level. Risks therefore exist. Risk identification and competent risk management are necessary to ensure the stability of economic subjects themselves and the whole system formed as a result of the interaction among these subjects. Theoretical analysis. On the basis of generalization of the existing theoretical researches on the problem of economic risks, the paper differentiates such concepts as risk and uncertainty, systematizes economic risks, and provides the author’s treatment of the “risk of interaction” category. Discussion. The result of the research conducted is identification of most topical and significant (for the modern economy) risks of interaction among main actors of the national innovative system (science, business, and the state). Among which, the development rate loss risk of an economic subject, the risk of economic losses as a lost profit and a half-received income, the risk of unclaimed training courses, the risk of increased budgeted expenses, low rates of the economic growth, and the risk of loss of the stability of a system.

Introduction. At the Russian economy’s transition to innovative development, the question of its investment mechanism is very important. Venture investment is most promising in this case. For Russia, venture investment is a rather new tool and, therefore, market mechanisms are introduced with great difficulties. Tasks and methods. To observe the current situation and the causes thereof; to detect the existence of a link between innovative development and the usage of the venture investment mechanism. Theoretical methods (analysis, synthesis, modeling, logical and system approaches, deduction, and induction) and empirical methods (observation, measurement, and comparison) were used. Results: the causes of the slow introduction of venture investment into the Russian economy were recognized; an idea of strengthening the links between innovative development and market investment mechanisms was developed. In particular, a conclusion was made that using venture investment would allow implementing developer projects as well as innovative ones. Such investments would allow companies to develop much quicker. It has impact on the regional and national development, on the increase of well-being, and on the unemployment rate decrease. Conclusion. Thus, the use of venture funds would allow turning to the innovative model of development, but the state support is necessary at the early stages of venture financing. For increasing the Russian economy’s competitiveness at this stage, it is recommended to address venture investments to a limited number of critical technologies.

Introduction. The article aims to investigate the forms of partners’ opportunistic behavior in a public-private partnership (PPP). The article highlights key features of a PPP that involves construction and operation of a railroad in Eastern Kazakhstan. Research methodology. This qualitative study employs in-depth interviews as a principal data collection method. Theoretical framework. The article’s theoretical underpinnings stem from highlighting the meaning of opportunism in general and from defining opportunistic behavior in a PPP in particular. Results. The article reveals the typical reasons behind opportunistic behavior such as intent to pay for unplanned project expenses and a need to turn project’s losses into profits. The article concludes that the government, by rejecting applications for tariff raises, aims at receiving the greater PPP value for money and, hence, serves the PPP interest as well as the interests of taxpayers and consumers. Conclusion. The opportunistic private sector partner behavior that pursues its own interest, rather than that of a partnership, diminishes the PPP value for money. Instead of raising a tariff, a private operator should look for ways of cutting costs and increasing the project’s efficiency.