The importance of this research stems from the need to ensure the sustainability of cross-border cooperation through a better understanding of its determinants and causal relationships. While having common features and patterns, cross-border cooperation is always expressed through the relations of specific countries and peoples. Therefore, based upon the PLS-SEM methodology, the authors consider the fundamental factors influencing the external cooperation of Hungary’s transboundary regions. The advantage of the PLS-SEM method is that it enables researchers to simultaneously identify and approximate hidden connections between input data and to construct a regression model describing the relationship between input data. Despite widespread application in economic studies, the authors have not found the use of PLS-SEM for studying cross-border cooperation issues in the current scientific literature. The authors have built a model to assess the hidden factors of cross-border cooperation and to identify the indirect influence of certain factors. The novelty of the research is to identify the determinants of sustainable cross-border cooperation and the relationship between them in a multi-level system of cross-border interaction between businesses, people, and the State. In the Hungarian context, transport infrastructure and business travel are shown to have a direct positive impact on cross-border cooperation. For the first time, tourism and socio-economic conditions have been shown to have powerful but indirect impacts. This work could be the beginning of gathering new evidence on the determinants and causation of cross-border cooperation in the context of other countries. An important finding of the study is the growing importance of indicators of the new, post-industrial economy. As for recommendations, the authors focus on state, regional, and municipal support measures, awareness of the possibilities of cross-border cooperation, the need to develop e-commerce, and alternative energy as a modern basis for converting Hungary’s cross-border position into a competitive advantage.

Vizja Press&IT www.ce.vizja.pl 323The purpose of the article is to identify and analyze scenarios of business development in the agricultural machinery market under conditions of international trade integration using the case of present-day Russia and to determine the need for state support for domestic production. As a methodological provision, we use the scenario analysis method adapted by the authors for the determination and analysis of possible scenarios of business development in the agricultural machinery market under conditions of international trade integration. From the research results, the authors conclude that the Russian agricultural machinery market develops dynamically under the influence of multiple favorable factors and positive tendencies, which include a population' s income growth, increases in crop areas of farm crops, and state agricultural machinery modernization programs, among other. In view of recent events in the currency market, Russian manufacturers of agricultural machinery are presented with better opportunities to export their products. The performed analysis of features of the Russian agricultural machinery market under conditions of international trade integration shows that increased demand and market prices are probable and that this could lead to enterprise income growth. From our scenario analysis of business development in the agricultural machinery market under conditions of international trade integration, we identify the absence of an urgent need for state interference in market processes in the Russian market for agricultural machinery in the next five years. Introduction

Subject. The article analyzes the mesodynamics of economic sectors in Russian regions. Objectives. The aim of the study is to undertake quantitative and qualitative monitoring of the components' evolution in twelve basic economic sectors from 2005 to 2017, to describe the regions' homogeneity, stability and balance, and their prospects for investment. Methods. We employ methods of identification, lowess smoothing, and the bootstrap approach to identify models of mesodynamics on 30–50-value samples, without a priori knowledge about the stochastic component distribution law. Results. The findings confirmed the possibility and adequacy of the econophysics paradigm for mesodynamic analysis. We justified and tested methods for general mesodynamic models' identification, using the R programming language. Conclusions. The offered methodology and tools will enable to develop a knowledge base for fundamental laws of mesodynamics. They will also help reveal spatial and temporal features of cyclical development of Russian regions; assess the level of balance and sustainability of regional development in the medium term period; group the regions by their cycle length and define the most promising ones for investment.

With the adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the world has recognized the need to move to responsible governance in many areas of life, including seaports, which are at the forefront of economic activity and environmental safety. The present paper examines the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of sustainable development principles under the free port scheme. The authors analyzed the Russian Audit Chamber report on the activities of the free port of Vladivostok and compared it with the pioneer experience of the sustainable development of the port of Antwerp. The results show that focusing only on the economic and social objectives of preferential treatment is not sufficient for the effective management of coastal areas, such as ports. To improve management efficiency and fully integrate the coastal area with preferential treatment in the world economic relations, the authors consider it necessary to ensure commitment to the goals of sustainable development and propose a model for the implementation of the sustainable development principles, as exemplified by the free port of Vladivostok.