2019 Issue №3

The article is devoted to the analysis of the behaviour of bidders in the global gold market affected by short-term and medium-term geopolitical dis­turbances. The direction, volume, speed and time range of investments in gold are determined depending on the nature of geopolitical threats. Based on non-economic factors, the author reveals the main patterns of making trivial and non-trivial decisions on investing in gold. The first part of the article de­scribes the influence of geopolitical processes on the dynamics of the price of gold and the degree of its relevance. To achieve this goal the author employs the observation method and systemic, comparative and retrospective analyses. The global market of gold has its permanent professional participants, the in­vestment behaviour of whom directly affects the revaluation of the precious metal. There is another group of market participants acting strictly in the in­terests of the world leading players. This group does not significantly affect the fluctuation of the price of gold. The article explores the differences and similarities between actors of the gold market and the main players on the po­litical arena. The behaviour of professional participants in the gold market is conditioned by repeated and abrupt changes in the geopolitical space.

The author evaluates different development strategies for the Kaliningrad region proposed following the region’s active participation in the implementa­tion of the Greater Eurasia project. The analysis of the strategies took into ac­count the current trends of strengthening regionalization in the era of globali­zation. The author employs a wide range of methods — economic-statistical, economic-cartographic and graphoanalytical analysis — and critically reviews a wide body of literature on the problem. It is shown that the exclave position of the Kaliningrad region makes it difficult to justify a long-term strategy of its socio-economic development. Most of the previously developed strategies were based on export and / or import-substitution, proceeding from the advan­tageous geographical position in the coastal zone and the region’s proximity to economically developed countries and Russian regions. Deterioration of polit­ical relations and the weakening of socio-economic ties between Russia and the West diminished chances of implementing this type of strategy. However, the Greater Eurasia project opens up new perspectives for the Kaliningrad region. The new development strategy presupposes the development of the region as a link of the East — West transport corridor. The implementation of this strate­gy can be facilitated by the strengthening of foreign economic ties with the East of Eurasia and the restoration of relations with the EU countries on a new ba­sis.

Increasing competition in the retail segment of the Russian pharmaceuti­cal market, which is mainly represented by small businesses, leads to the struggle for each customer, who is becoming increasingly demanding when it comes to the quality of medicines and medical services. The article identifies the main problems and factors affecting the development of the retail segment of the pharmaceutical business of the old industrial region. The author offers a methodology of the assessment of consumer preferences and presents the re­sults of marketing analysis of customer preferences in the retail segment of the pharmaceutical business of the Kemerovo region.