This study reveals the current problems and prospects of developing shale oil and gas industries in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Poland, Russia, China, India, and Australia. This approach allows a comprehensive and wide view on the industry and its geography. A brief review of the technologies implemented in the shale industry is provided. The key aim of the paper is to compare the hydrocarbon market conjuncture and economic environment (including financial), in the above-mentioned states, in order to reveal the factors contributing to the development of the industry. The methodology is based on the statistical estimation of the extraction, exports, and reserves of extractable shale hydrocarbons. The analysis given allows the forecast and estimation of the economic effects and external institutional effects of shale hydrocarbon extraction. It also contributes to the evaluation of the prospects of shale industry development in America, the EU, Russia, and the Asia-Pacific region. In accordance with the overall impact the shale revolution has had on the economies, environmental conditions, and societies of the chosen countries, recommendations are provided. The authors develop three scenarios for the future of the shale industry. The most probable scenario is a slower dissemination of horizontal drilling, as well as tight oil and shale gas extraction, with the decline of conventional reserve volumes.

The belt and road initiative (BRI) is a comprehensive megaproject, which includes numerous projects in the sphere of green energy. The effectiveness of these projects is often doubted. The article reveals the main mechanisms of green energy projects' influence on the economy and through the research of 8 BRI countries demonstrates the method of green energy projects efficiency estimation. China is considered to be the main driver for green energy proliferation in Asia, receiving economic benefits through its policy. The authors prove this to be right, but the effects for PRC differ in short and long-run periods. The main findings of the paper are that the BRI green energy dissemination is just the first step to building a tightly interconnected Asian energy infrastructure, and that the BRI least developed countries have less positive long-run effects from green energy investment, while in short-term they get a boost for their economies.

The development of innovations is the key trend in the sustainable economic development of the countries and corporations all over the world. Huawei has proved to be one of the most efficient innovators on the market and conquered a significant niche on the global high-tech market. The authors put forward a hypothesis that such impressive results and a relatively narrow market niche are supported by the government influence on the company and the new trends in the Chinese high-tech development program. In order to clarify the issue, the authors have conducted an analysis of the corporate and government innovations development strategies and come to a conclusion that the delegation of innovations development to the corporate sector is the new trend in the Chinese R&D development strategy.