DOI: 10.25136/2409-8671.2019.3.30614

Abstract: The research subject is the interconnection between oil wealth and political processes. The research object is the influence of hydrocarbons on ethnic conflicts. The author considers the ‘political’ dimension of the problem of resource curse and puts emphasis on the economic component of politics. There’s empirical data proving that the existence of ground or subsea oil or gas fields increases the probability of a civil war. At the same time, political and economic sciences still can’t explain this fact clearly and definitely. The main research paradigm is political economy with the rational choice methodology in the core. The author proceeds from the assumption that political actors try to analyze their profits and costs and make decisions based on this analysis. The article considers three explanations of the influence of oil on civil wars. Firstly, it’s a “honeypot effect”, when profits from hydrocarbons make official positions more enticing. Secondly, it’s the reduction of administrative competences of the state as a result of the resource curse. Thirdly, it’s the increase of probability of international intervention. The author concludes that the key conditions of a civil war are the low cost of a riot and the concentration of hydrocarbon wealth in one region which can be interested in separation.   

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0684.2017.3.22271

Abstract:   The object of this research is the financial markets pressure groups, in other words, associations of influential financial experts and industrialists that attempt to affect the regulatory rules established in the financial markets. The subject is the motivation of pressure groups towards limitation of the financial development, tools applied for introduction of the anti-market legislation, as well as the political climate used for adoption of laws that restricts the financial development of one or another country. Global statistics demonstrates that the financial sector manifests as one of the most “regulated”, which substantiates the relevance of this work. Theoretical base of the research contains the political economy paradigm alongside the rational choice theory that view the political actors as economic agents that maximize their value. The article explains why the restriction of financial development can be profitable for the large industrial and financial corporations. The author systematized the theoretical positions of the rational choice theory in application to the pressure groups. Based on the example of the Japanese financial markets, it is described the precise mechanism of the pressure groups used to constraint the financial development.  

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8647.2017.2.22669

Abstract: The subject of the research is the saving behavior of economic agents (in this case, population) under limited resources nd uncertain environment. The object of the research is the combination of cognitive and behavioral effects and phenomena that encourage or prevent from savings. These factors can be successfully used to encourage this type of economic behavior, moreover, some of them can be used directly by the government as well as financial institutions (retail banks, etc.). In their research the authors have used traditional economic research methods such as analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, and research abstraction. They have also used the method of case study (analysis of particular situations) and others. The researchers focuse on qualitative instead of quantitative analysis. The authors have offered a classification of discovered made in the fields of behavioral and cognitive economy, these discoveries facilitating or preventing from saving behavior of economic agents. The authors also analyze the experience of financial institutions aimed at encouraging saving behavior and developing relevant behavioral patterns (the habit to save money). The authors also offer to adapt a number of instruments that are used in modern marketing. In particular, they analyze savings gamification methods (based on the goal gradient hypothesis) and opportunities to apply the endowment effect through visualisation of the future value in account, etc.