Macroeconomics and Economic Growth

Reports dedicated to research in macroeconomics and macroeconomic policy may be submitted for review in this section. Papers may take either a theoretical or an empirical approach. Priority will be given to those reports that focus on describing economic mechanisms and providing decision-making support for shaping economic policy in the context of a turbulent global economy and restrictive sanctions.

In this new context, such policies should be aimed at ensuring social stability, mitigating the effects of negative shocks, and creating conditions that promote household welfare. While not all studies will necessarily lead to conclusions that pertain to economic policy, those papers that do feature specific policy recommendations are of particular interest.

Priority will be given to those reports that focus on issues typically faced by economies featuring a significant share of raw materials exports in aggregate demand, as well as regional heterogeneity. As such, reports may be focused on Russia or on any other country or region with similar economic development characteristics.

Research should be carried out on the basis of contemporary economic theory and quantitative analysis methods drawn from academic literature. Proposals must meet the following requirements:

• A valid research question;
• Academic novelty;
• A substantive contribution to the field.

Report topics may cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Monetary and tax policies adopted in response to high volatility and uncertainty in external conditions;
• Instruments for mitigating and managing the economic impact of internal and external shocks;
• How and why countries and regions differ by income levels and growth rates;
• Supporting sustainable economic growth in a slowing global economy that faces geopolitical risks and a new environmental agenda;
• Dependence on natural resource exports and approaches to economic diversification;
• The impact of income inequality and human capital distribution on domestic and regional economic development.

Methodology of Economic Sciences

The HSE University Centre for the History and Methodology of Economic Science is coordinating this section. It welcomes the submission of reports dealing with issues in the history and methodology of economics and the interrelationship between economic theory and economic policy, as well as interdisciplinary research on economics and other sciences. The special focus issue of this year’s Yasin Conference is the changing image of economics in the 21^st century. Both Russian and foreign participants are invited.

Theoretical Economics

This section will cover a broad range of topics in microeconomic theory, including theoretical industrial organization, political economy, social choice and decision theory, market design, information economics, auctions, matching theory, network theory and its applications, and experimental and behavioural economics, as well as other topics that make use of the methods of game theory and related disciplines.

Firms and Markets

The coordinators of this section welcome reports on the following topics:

• Corporate governance and business models;
• Corporate finance;
• Corporate behaviour in markets for goods and services; investment, innovative and organizational behaviour;
• The foreign trade activity of firms;
• The digital transformation of firms;
• Global and domestic value chains;
• The impact of sanctions on the behaviour and sustainability of firms and markets;
• Behaviour patterns of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
• The competitiveness of firms in domestic and global markets;
• Corporate relations with government authorities at different levels;
• Market structures and corporate integration;
• The challenge of growth in regulated markets;
• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and corporate performance;
• Firms and markets in the energy transition.

Finance and Banking

The coordinators of this section welcome submissions of empirical and theoretical reports covering all areas of Finance. We will consider both new and traditional topics in Finance, including:

• Corporate finance and banking;
• Asset pricing in equity and credit markets;
• Macrofinance and foreign exchange markets;
• Mutual funds;
• Financial econometrics and Big Data analysis;
• Cryptocurrencies, digital assets and payment systems;
• Risk management and financial derivatives;
• “Green” finance and sustainability.

We also welcome proposals from other fields of financial economics.

Social Policy and Healthcare

Social policy and healthcare are critical tools for promoting sustainable socioeconomic growth. Specifically, they are key factors in achieving national development goals for preserving the population, improving people's health and welfare, and supporting families. This area is focused on issues pertaining to health, factors conducive to leading a healthy lifestyle, living standards, the quality of life of households, and policies for equalizing development opportunities for diverse social groups and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services. This year, we will additionally address and analyse various signs of inequality in living standards, quality of life, consumption, health characteristics, and access to medical services.

Tentative topics for reports submitted for discussion at the conference include:

• Household income, expenditures and consumption, and related inequality;
• Quality of life and well-being, including differentiating factors;
• Family policy and social support for families with children;
• Social insurance and pension systems;
• Social services and long-term care for individuals with self-care deficits; integration of health and social services in the lifelong care system;
• Instruments of evidence-based social policy;
• Analysing factors that impact healthy lifestyles;
• Co-financing of medical services by citizens; inequality in the accessibility of medical services;
• Efficient use of resources in healthcare systems;
• Developing organizational, administrative and financial structures for providing medical services;
• Innovation in the governance of medical organizations;
• Changing work and pay arrangements and their impact on healthcare employees’ performance.

Demography and Labour Markets

This section addresses a wide range of issues related to demographic development and labour market trends. Sessions devoted to demographic development will feature discussions about shifts in demographic processes and structures, as well as the socioeconomic aspects of demographic trends, population forecasts and models, demographic behaviour, sources of population data, regional and national demographics, and demographic and migration policies.

Sessions devoted to the labour market will explore a broad spectrum of issues, such as employment, unemployment, wage setting and differentiation, inequality within the job market, and the development of labour market institutions. Participants will also examine the impact that digital transformation is having on the job market and labour relations.

Special attention will be paid to the connections between the labour market, education and public health.

Reports should reflect findings from original research. We also welcome original interdisciplinary research projects on topics lying at the intersection of economics and other disciplines.

Political Processes

We invite reports that centre on the comparative analysis of political institutions and processes in Russia and other countries, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. Additionally, we encourage a focus on the use of contemporary methods in computational social sciences to study political processes and phenomena. Issues pertaining to the role of human and social capital in political processes, as well as the impact of policy on these types of capital, are of particular interest for this year’s conference.

We also welcome reports that address various issues in comparative and global policy, political theory, political behaviour, political culture, political methodological research, and other themes. At the same time, we also welcome papers that provide conclusions based on the author’s analysis of empirical materials.

Sociology

The coordinators of the Sociology section invite speakers who seek to explore contemporary social phenomena, processes and practices that are both rooted in the past and remain relevant today and in the near future, through the lens of sociology and related disciplines.

Researchers are encouraged to focus on the following key topics:

1. Trends in human capital development in the context of contemporary labour market and employment conditions;
2. The dynamics of social institutions and the social structure of society;
3. The prospects for social mobility and demographic trends;
4. New digital technologies, integration of artificial intelligence into everyday life, and related prospects and challenges.

We look forward to receiving reports that showcase research findings in one or more of the aforementioned areas. Additionally, we encourage papers that reflect on or propose new methodological solutions for addressing specific research problems within the given topics.

Our priority is to engage in discussions focusing on recent studies conducted in 2023-2024.

Psychology

This section will explore current trends in psychological studies and practice, aligning with the key research areas pursued by HSE University. The following topics will be examined by participants during the sessions:

• Cognitive processes in the information environment: phenomena and explanatory models;
• Psychological effects of socioeconomic dynamics;
• The psychology of personality;
• Personal psychological well-being: theory and practice.

The Laboratory for Cognitive Development and the Laboratory for the Cognitive Psychology of Digital Interface Users are the joint coordinators of this section, which is dedicated to cognitive processes in the information environment. Both labs will ensure a high level of organizational standards and are pleased to invite speakers. Staff from the Laboratory for the Psychology of Social Inequality and the Research and Study Group for the Psychology of Organizational Communication will jointly conduct the session on the psychological effects of socioeconomic dynamics. The practice-oriented focus of psychological studies at HSE University will be showcased in sessions on the psychology of personality and psychological well-being. This practice-oriented approach has been embedded in the Master's programmes in the fields of Psychological Counselling and Psychotherapy, as well as the strategic Success and Self-Sustainability in a Changing World project. Key Russian and foreign experts specializing in relevant research areas will be invited to take part in the sessions.

Instrumental Methods in Economic and Social Research

This section will feature reports by leading researchers and practitioners with the aim of presenting the most advanced methodological approaches to the study of complex economic and social systems. In the context of the rapid accumulation of available data, the use of modern analytical methods and technologies for obtaining useful information is becoming critical for informed decision-making, as well as for developing effective strategies in various fields. This section will showcase presentations on such topics as Big Data analysis in economics, business and politics, as well as decision-making tools based on Big Data analysis. Special attention will be paid to the use of modern mathematical methods, including imitative and numerical simulations, as well as scenario analysis. In addition, this section will feature reports on multiple-agent systems, big systems monitoring and analysis tools contributing to the increased resilience and adaptability of organizations in a rapidly changing global environment, models and methods for managing social networks and network structures, as well as using Big Data in solving economic problems. Particular attention will be paid to the practical application of various mathematical methods for solving current economic and social problems, as well as their role in the formation of strategies at various levels.

Management

As part of the section, a vast array of topics will be considered, with a focus on pressing issues in business and management. A special emphasis, however, will be placed on the following:
- instrumental methods in management;
- models and methods for sustainable corporate development;
- adaptation of business models as per external factors;
- phygital transformation;
- new digital marketing solutions and practices;
- AI application in supply chain management;
- entrepreneurial models.