In modern conditions clusters are considered as an effective tool for achieving sustainable economic growth in the regional economy. Their successful development is a decisive condition for creating a new management model based on the priority of innovative production renewal. In this regard, the creation of high-tech and efficient clusters should become the main direction of strategic management of territorial development by the state authorities of the Russian Federation subjects. However, the solution of this task is impossible without the development of an appropriate methodology and techniques for assessing the effectiveness of the regional economy clustering, which could be used in the development of cluster initiatives and preparation of state programs for regional cluster development. The article highlights the main results of the research carried out under the RFBR grant «Effectiveness of cluster spatial development of the region in conditions of transition to an innovative economy» No 16-12-59011 in 2016-2017. Theoretical and methodological grounds for developing a multi-criterial approach to assessing the cluster effectiveness of the regional economic space have been formulated. Interpretation and distinctive features of the cluster as a self-developing system are given. Configuration of the effectiveness criteria for cluster spatial development of the economy is proposed, which is a primary visualization of the cluster criterial efficiency model. Description of the criterial and indicative approach to the analysis of the effectiveness of regional economy cluster development is given and an integral indicator is proposed for its evaluation. Methodology for assessing the Regional cluster index was tested in nine regions of the Russian Federation, which territorial clusters were officially registered in the Register of industrial clusters 2016 of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. Results of the survey can be of interest to representatives of the government bodies at various levels, heads of specialized cluster structures, enterprises and organizations that are members of clusters.

The research is aimed to search of optimal solution in integration of various methods for predicting the sizes of karst-suffosion deformations on the ground surface or at the base of shallow foundations. Necessity of integration is dictated by engineering-geological conditionsof the karst areas and the complexity of their reliable study with using modern approaches (drilling, geophysics etc.). From this point of view increasing of authenticity of the final forecast is in direct dependency from completeness of investigation of sizes of observed surface karstforms and features of behavior soils massif above the karst cavity. The mechanism of the karst process in the soils thickness is defined, first of all, by geological structure (thickness and interleaving of different soil layers), hydrogeological conditions and the physical-mechanicalproperties of soils. At the present day are known three basic mechanisms of soil deformation over karst cavity: karst-collapse, karst-suffosion and karst-suffosion-collapse mechanism. Even in the conditions of one site these mechanisms can be interleave during the year, which makesthe karst formation process hard-to-predict in part of diameters of sinkholes and subsidence zones. Today are known and applicable next four methods to estimations of possible sizes of karst-suffosion deformations: 1) method of analogy, 2) probabilistic method, 3) deterministic(calculated) method, 4) laboratory physical modeling method. Each of four methods for predicting the sizes of karst-suffosion deformations has its own advantages and disadvantages, which limit the possibility of using any one of them in different natural environments of karstdevelopment. To improve objectivity and reach necessity accuracy of estimation of diameters and depths of surface karst deformations in engineering-geological purposes a block-scheme of integrations of different forecasting methods is recommended. This scheme is based on the data about surface karst area, the depth of occurrence of karst rocks and level of responsibility of the projecting object.

The phenomenon of international cluster cooperation is transforming the modern economy and encompassing various contexts of global collaboration that are driving new value chains. At the same time, there is no doubt that cooperation of cluster members with foreign partners leads to risks in the implementation of joint projects. The toolkit proposed in the article develops theoretical and methodological approaches of risk management in the field of international cluster projects risk assessment and creates preconditions for the development of reasonable models of risks control and management, as well as the choice of methods for their leveling. The methodology of international cluster projects risks assessment includes a step-by-step algorithm for calculating an integral indicator of cluster cooperation risk with a foreign partner, based on the use of expert information. We propose to formalize the results of international cluster projects risk assessment using the matrix of management impact, which also allows to classify projects by risk level. The study has developed a risk zoning model that optimally visualizes risk areas of international cluster projects. Methods were tested on the example of the Perm Territory pharmaceutical cluster project. The results of the study may be of interest to cluster members and specialized cluster organizations that solve problems of assessing and selecting cluster projects for the purpose of their subsequent implementation. As a research perspective, it is of interest to create software products and simulation models for assessing and monitoring cluster projects risks in the implementation of which a large number of partners from different countries take part.

The article provides with the results of a comprehensive assessment of the stability of the area near the karst sinkholes at Berezniki, Gaginsky district. The materials of geophysical surveys obtained by the method of vertical electric sounding were interpreted taking into account the karstological drilling data. Weakened zones are outlined along the apparent resistivity sections. Dependence of sounding results on the distance from the nearest sinkhole was analyzed. The intensity of sinkhole formation and the average diameter of the karst sinkhole were calculated