The imposition of economic sanctions on Russia by other countries has raised interest rates, diminished the working capital of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and led to the restoration of state-owned companies in many sectors of the economy. Nevertheless, the Russian Federation continues to make efforts to develop a market-oriented economy based on open competition. This article considers the current situation with SMEs in Russia from the standpoint of market competition and the influence of monopolies on this process. It analyzes bottlenecks in the interaction of monopolies with SMEs. For example, the wires and pipelines required to distribute energy, heat, and electricity over large geographic areas are natural monopolies: only one company can provides each service efficiently in a given area. The companies that control those natural monopolies are able to extract payments far in excess of cost from small businesses. In this and other ways, monopolies are able to dominate the Russian economy and restrict competition from SMEs.

Purpose of this article is to define the ability of Russian institutions to act as agents of change and innovation. Growing multi local economic activity stimulates innovative enterprises for cooperation with stakeholders. Usually, it means consumers, suppliers, authorities and government involvement in change processes. If achievement of interests balance is clear and transparent for all stakeholders, they will be change agents. Modern experience in streamlining social and economic relations between stakeholders focuses on the development of functional institutions that can act as agents of change. Forms of organization of such institutions can be clusters, technology parks, holdings, management companies, joint-stock companies, state-owned companies, manufacturers’ associations, marketing cooperatives, and professional communities. Research methods are statistics index analysis and network analysis. Working with these research methods, World Bank Input-Output Database, Federal Custom data, Rosstat data and law searching system we prove impossibility of full-fledged cluster policy implementation. Finally we prove that present Russian institutes are complacent and require more transparency. Consequently, cluster progression needs for common institutional space, supporting clear and transparent transactions between stakeholders, regardless of their location and technologies used.

The problem of homelessness in the Russian Federation has deep roots in history. Throughout much of the past century, it was a result of displacement of children during revolution, civil war, and wars with foreign powers. Even now, many of the economic problems that cause homelessness in Russia result from sanctions imposed by foreign governments. This article explains the roles of the state and charities in ameliorating the contemporary situation of people without housing. One of the most important programs of one charity involves providing some form of paid work to everyone in the shelters, so that residents can feel a sense of self-worth often lacking in purely charitable ventures. In the long run, no specialized programs that target the homeless can make a dent in the problem unless the state, civil society, and housing developers work together to produce more decent housing in cities and create more jobs in rural areas that are currently facing depopulation. The recent introduction of escrow accounts to reduce fraud in housing finance is already making a difference in promoting increased housing construction.

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Research background: The analysis shows the focus of studies on public incentive for science and technology (S&T) on individual tools (financial support, personnel development, infrastructure, scientific collaborations), or the study of the current issues. The development of a systemic view on the evolution of the public mechanism of S&T incentive is required. Purpose of the article: to form a systemic view on the processes and instruments of S&T stimulation in Russia over the past 30 years, allowing to create a methodological basis for centers of excellence development. Methods: A comprehensive historical and logical analysis of Russian and foreign studies is conducted. Using a systemic approach, a classification of S&T incentive instruments is developed, which is greatly influenced by the ideas of S. Zaichenko on centers of excellence. Quantitative analysis of S&T statistics in the context of the implementation of various public incentive mechanism instruments allows to draw conclusions about the level of effectiveness of the latter. On the basis of the synthesis of all the results obtained, proposals for the structure of the mechanism for stimulating centers of excellence in Russia are generated. Findings & Value added: - S&T stimulation tools in Russia over the past 30 years are identified and classified; - a periodization of these instruments is developed; - a chronological analysis of their evolution in the context of the selected groups and their influence on the innovative development of Russia is conducted; - proposals on the structure of the mechanism for stimulation of the centers of excellence in Russia are formulated.