Explore the vast range of titles available.

Fresh groundwater, as an essential component of global water resources and a special type of mineral wealth, has a whole set of features that affect social infrastructure, the economy and the environmental well-being of the population. At the same time, groundwater is vulnerable and limited despite its replenishable nature and vast reserves. Recently, in some countries, the practice of extracting groundwater resources by private individuals on their territory has been actively spreading, but not in all states. This is considered acceptable and is enshrined in national regulations. Uncontrolled exploitation of aquifers by small water users can affect the safety of ecosystems and the depletion of drinking groundwater reserves. In this regard, the state policy and system for regulating access to groundwater resources for all subsoil users should be based on a well-thought-out concept. This article is devoted to the organizational, economic, and regulatory issues of groundwater extraction by individuals for their own needs in the Russian Federation. A comparative analysis of the state approach to groundwater extraction by private individuals in other states (mainly in the example of Germany and China) is made. The latest trends in legislation in this area are analyzed, shortcomings in the system of state regulation of groundwater use are identified, and mechanisms for legalizing the activities of individual water users are proposed. Global groundwater regulation should be based on rationality, control, safety, protection, sustainability, and future generations’ care.

The trust of society, investors, banks, and the state in the published information of economic entities is ensured through auditing, making auditing a public-legal function. The authors have analyzed the current state of the audit services market in Russia. As a result of the analysis conducted, inconsistencies in the state regulation of this function have been identified. Self-regulation of auditing in Russia, under the conditions of a non-alternative self-regulatory organization and strict control measures by government authorities, leads to a significant reduction in both auditors and auditing organizations, thereby reducing competition in the audit services market. The authors conclude that there are two components in auditing activities: professional and entrepreneurial, which have different goals and objectives. The authors identify insufficient implementation of professional elements in the activities of auditors and auditing organizations, as well as the predominance of entrepreneurial elements, as the prerequisites for problems in the industry's development and a decrease in society's trust in the work of auditors.

Presently, there is a paradoxical situation in the global energy market related to a gap between the image of hydrocarbon resources (HCR) and their real value for the economy. On the one hand, we face an increase in expected HCR production and consumption volumes, both in the short and long term. On the other hand, we see the formation of the image of HCR and associated technologies as an unacceptable option, without enough attention to the differences in fuels and the ways of their usage. Due to this, it seems necessary to take a step back to review the vitality of such a political line. This article highlights an alternative point of view with regard to energy development prospects. The purpose of this article is to analyse the consistency of criticism towards HCR based on exploration of scientific literature, analytical documents of international corporations and energy companies as well as critical assessment of technologies offered for the HCR substitution. The analysis showed that: (1) it is impossible to substitute the majority of HCR with alternative power resources in the near term, (2) it is essential that the criticism of energy companies with regard to their responsibility for climate change should lead not to destruction of the industry but to the search of sustainable means for its development, (3) the strategic benchmarks of oil and coal industries should shift towards chemical production, but their significance should not be downgraded for the energy sector, (4) liquified natural gas (LNG) is an independent industry with the highest expansion potential in global markets in the coming years as compared to alternative energy options, and (5) Russia possesses a huge potential for the development of the gas industry, and particularly LNG, that will be unlocked if timely measures on higher efficiency of the state regulation system are implemented.

The use of nurse practitioners (NPs) is one way to address the shortage of physician primary care providers. NP training programs and the number of practicing NPs have increased in the past two decades. However, regulations limiting their scope of practice vary greatly by state. We assessed the impact of state regulations on the increase in care provided by NPs in the United States, using a 5 percent national sample of Medicare beneficiaries. We found that between 1998 and 2010 the number of Medicare patients receiving care from NPs increased fifteenfold. By 2010 states with the least restrictive regulations of NP practice had a 2.5-fold greater likelihood of patients' receiving their primary care from NPs than did the most restrictive states. Relaxing state restrictions on NP practice should increase the use of NPs as primary care providers, which in turn would reduce the current national shortage of primary care providers. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Housing commodification has led to the development of gated neighbourhoods in China. However, the types of gated neighbourhoods are very different from each other, and include ‘commodity housing’, affordable housing and resettlement housing. They might not be the same as the commonly known ‘gated communities’, which are characterised by both gating and private governance. Using three cases in the city of Wenzhou, we analyse the motivations for development, service provision and property management, and neighbourhood control. In commodity housing, the state is still visible and self-governance is limited, while the real estate developer leads land development and property management. In affordable housing, the state regulates the standards and the prices of services, while the developer is the provider of these services. In resettlement housing, the state uses a state-owned enterprise to relocate households, while the homeowners’ association and the service charges are ineffective. All these cases demonstrate the important and variegated role of the state and provide a more nuanced understanding of these gated neighbourhoods. 住房商品化导致了中国封闭式小区的发展。然而，不同类型的门禁小区彼此非常不同， 其中包括“商品房”、经济适用房和安置房。它们可能与通常认为的“门禁小区”不同，后 者以门禁和私人治理为特征。我们基于温州市的三个案例，分析了房屋开发、服务提供 和物业管理以及邻里控制的动机。商品房：政府的影子仍然可见，自治有限，而房地产 开发商则主导土地开发和物业管理。经济适用房：国家规定服务的标准和价格，而开发 商则是这些服务的提供者。安置房：国家使用国有企业完成住户的搬迁，而业主之间的 组织和服务费收取均处于无效状态。所有这些案例都展示了政府所扮演的重要和多样化 的角色，并提供了对这些门禁小区的更细致的理解。

Synopsis: This article is one in a series of pieces that the Energy Law Journal has published on the issue of energy insecurity, i.e., the inability to meet basic household needs.1 Utility services play a vital role in our modern economy, daily life and health, and overall societal wellbeing, and therefore, the loss of utility services is one indicia of energy insecurity. Utility disconnections and shutoffs adversely impact a significant number of individuals and families in the United States from both a financial and health-related perspective and these impacts have been exacerbated by increasing usage and prices. The article examines the disruptive impacts of utility disconnections and shutoffs on both the disconnected customers and utilities. Next, the article provides an overview of the federal and state regulation of utility disconnection and shutoff policy and various factors that are putting pressure on these existing policies. Finally, the article provides a state survey on the various frameworks, policies, and practices in place to address this form of energy insecurity, including notice and fee requirements, protections and exceptions for health-related conditions and vulnerable communities, the use of moratoria, available assistance, as well as how this impacts tenants and renters.2

The conducted research consists in the possibility of using the obtained data to build a modern model of state regulation of the fuel and energy complex. The research results can be used in the activities of interested state authorities, mainly at the federal level. The paper discusses the theoretical features of state regulation of the fuel and energy complex. The characteristic of the development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation is given. The paper studies the development of state regulation mechanisms in the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation. The problems of development of the fuel and energy complex of the Russian Federation are highlighted. Recommendations for improving interaction between the fuel and energy complex and the state are given.

Purpose. To determine the factors of innovative development of industrial enterprises of Ukraine in conditions of economic destabilization, based on taking into account the asymmetric influence of the institutional environment, human capital and market development, for further identification of priority areas of state policy. Methodology. To assess the impact of the institutional environment, human capital and market conditions on the results of innovation activity, a multifactor econometric model was applied, which allows for the identification of asymmetries in the impact of different components on innovation efficiency. Statistical analysis of the Global Innovation Index indicators was used to identify key environmental factors that stimulate or inhibit the innovative activity of industrial enterprises. Findings. The key indicators of innovation activity in Ukraine were analyzed, and their compliance with the target challenges was established. The dynamics of the Global Innovation Index and its components were assessed. Key areas requiring improvement were identified, and the indicators of international ratings relatively to the formation of Ukrainian innovation ecosystem were assessed. The main results of the study indicate the presence of an imbalance in the influence of the institutional environment and human capital on innovation efficiency, which indicates the fragmentation of policy and insufficient integration of scientific developments into industry. At the same time, market mechanisms show a positive impact, emphasizing the importance of investment activity, access to financing and developed innovation infrastructure. Originality. An economic and mathematical model is constructed of the multifactorial efficiency of state regulation of the innovative activity of industrial enterprises of Ukraine, which considers the asymmetric influence of key factors: the negative impact of the institutional environment and human capital, as well as the positive impact of market development. The proposed approach allows assessing the relationship between the conditions for innovative activity and their performance as well as identifying priority areas of state policy. Practical value. The developed model can serve as a tool for monitoring the effectiveness of regulatory measures and determining priority areas of economic stimulation of innovations. The results obtained can be used to implement effective mechanisms of state regulation of innovation activity in conditions of limited resources, martial law and economic instability.

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to solve the problem of the development of state regulation of the functioning of the agro-industrial complex in the context of digital transformation, as well as the development and justification of ways to improve its efficiency. The existing system of state regulation does not fully take into account the needs of the agro-industrial complex in the development of digital transformation and is not sufficiently focused on stimulating the introduction of digital technologies. The scientific novelty of the study is to clarify the methodology for evaluating the implementation of the state program for the introduction of the digital economy. To analyse the effect of the introduction of digital technologies in agriculture, we have clarified the methodology for calculating the efficiency assessment. We have proposed a new model for the successful transition to digital technology of agricultural enterprises.

Purpose. To substantiate the foundations of institutional support for investment in Ukraine, to analyze international experience in stimulating and regulating investment activity, and develop avenues for enhancing the investment attractiveness of the domestic economy. Methodology. A systemic approach was employed to characterize the set of institutions and institutional structures in Ukraine’s investment sphere. The method of generalization was used to analyze the regulatory and legal framework for investment, while analysis and synthesis facilitated the comparison of international practices in regulating investment and the formulation of recommendations for adapting foreign experience to Ukraine’s national economy. Findings. The study substantiates that the effective formation of an institutional environment in Ukraine requires coordination and interaction among government agencies, businesses, and civil society. Key elements of the institutional system (legislative framework, state regulation, legal guarantees) that directly influence investors’ decisions are identified. Recommendations are proposed for improving tax, budgetary, and infrastructure policies in Ukraine with a view to attracting foreign direct investment. It is argued that the essential factors for attracting investment include a transparent regulatory environment, flexible tax and fiscal policies, stability of the monetary and credit system, and clear legal guarantees for both foreign and domestic investors. Originality. The vectors of influence exerted by public institutions on the formation of a sustainable investment climate amid global instability have been clarified and grouped. The institutional components of state regulation of investment are systematized, and the most effective legal, economic, and administrative tools are identified. The paper generalizes the experience of EU countries in creating a favorable investment environment and reveals the most effective methods for stimulating foreign investors, including tax and financial incentives, as well as the organization of special economic zones and industrial parks, which are proposed for implementation in Ukraine. Practical value. The results can be used to develop projects of state support for investors, optimize legislative support, and create an effective mechanism for stimulating innovation and investment. The proposed directions for improving investment attractiveness will contribute to economic recovery in the postwar period, increase competitiveness, and create a positive investment image of Ukraine.