The article discusses the foundations, opportunities and limitations of adjusting the conceptual framework of institutional analysis by replacing the pair “institutional environment — institutional agreements” with the triad “macro-, meso- and micro-institutions”. This study focuses on meso-institutions. It is expected that this concept is possible to fill the gap between the general institutional framework of economic exchange agents’ interaction and their decisions, which are reflected in contracts. Some examples from the competition policy and institutional design are offered, particularly the regulatory impact assessment methodology, to illustrate the role and place of meso-institutions in the structuring of public relations.

In recent years an approach has appeared in economic policy analysis, the followers of which try to argue that ideas not only matter but cause economic policies and economic institutions change, and after all cause change in economies: an ideational approach. The purpose of the paper is to analyze the approach’s argumentations, estimate its validity, reveal strengths and weaknesses. Whereas this approach embraces many different aspects of economic processes, this paper turns attention to only two issues: ideas’ influence on policies and policies change, and the role of ideas in institutional change.

The article examines the impact of various socio-economic and financial indicators on the resilience of Russian regions. For each region, the integral index of resilience is calculated, and its correlation dependence with the selected indicators is revealed. The study confirms the relationship between fiscal resilience and socio-economic resilience of the regions. The analysis of panel data for 75 regions from 2007 to 2016 shows that there are significant differences in the dynamics of indicators in different periods. In particular, the degree of exposure to the negative effects of the crises of 2008—2009 and 2014—2015 in non-resilient regions is higher than in resilient ones.

The study verifies the compliance of sectorial specialization of Russian regions and the priorities of regional development presented in the form of cluster initiatives. The case of cluster policy shows that sectorial specialization of Russian regions, which was identified statistically, is often ignored when applying public support measures. The paper reports on the results of comparative analysis of the method for determining regions’ specialization industries used in the paper with the list of “economic specializations of Russian regions” mentioned in the “Strategy for spatial development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025”. The paper suggests recommendations that ensure the multi-level coordination of policy makers’ actions and concentration of resources on the justified priorities of regional development.

The paper examines the impact of improving the characteristics of the national investment climate rating of a subject of the Russian Federation on economic development. Based on the analysis of regional panel data for the period from 2014 to 2018, it was shown that an increase in the rating of a region is associated with an inflow of investments and an increase in GRP. One of the identified channels of this influence is associated with the market of highly skilled labor. It is demonstrated that, given the inaccessibility of detailed information about the results of the regions development to investors, the rating does not fully function as a signal to them. Based on the obtained results, the recommendations for improving the rating methodology were formulated.

The article analyzes the prerequisites for creating community self-governance, the features of its functioning and efficiency. To do this, the authors use a variety of sources of information, including a number of surveys conducted in the city of Kirov (Russia). Evaluation of regression models shows that the conditions for the emergence of community self-governance include grassroots social capital and property rights, but at the same time citizens feel responsibility for the city and seek to gain the support of the authorities in solving local problems. At the same time, community self-governance emerges more often when people do not believe in the collective ability of society to achieve accountability and effective work of municipal authorities.

Development strategy of a country planning to increase considerably both per capita income and average life expectancy should take into consideration the climate component, i.e. increasing desire of people to live in places with favorable climate. The article addresses the issue of Russia’s population shift to regions with better climate, examines its possible outcomes and proposes relevant policy measures. The authors have come to the conclusion that in the European part of Russia, in addition to its two major cities, a macro region Teplorussia (“Warmer Russia”) has emerged which has become a gravitation center for migrants; the climate plays a major role in its attractiveness.

The article introduces a classification of research programs related to the cryptocurrency market. Each of them is surveyed, with the emphasis placed on the most recent studies. Despite the presence of market frictions, its informational efficiency tends to increase, thereby making it more comparable with the conventional financial markets. In particular, cryptocurrencies can be used for portfolio diversification. Yet, they can hardly compete with fiat money. Currently, central banks are only interested in examining and adopting some of the cryptocurrency features to create their own wholesale digital currencies.

The article reviews the implementation of the perspective planning in the USSR during the period of the New Economic Policy — NEP, from methodological discussions to the development of five-year plans — sectoral and for the entire national economy. The article analyzes the discussion of the proposal of the first five-year plan submitted by S. Strumilin at the congress of planning bodies in March, 1927. It is shown that the sharp criticism of this plan for being imbalanced by the leading economists of the country, in particular, V. Bazarov and N. Kondratiev, is valid. The author points out the influence of political factors on the planning process. The popular cliche that the forced industrialization in the five-year plan was necessary to prepare for the war is refuted.