The goal of the present research is to make comparative analysis of the development of human capital of circumpolar countries as the primary factor of sustainable development of the Arctic regions. In the context of Russia’s Arctic policy formation, the study of foreign countries experience in the development of human capital in the Arctic territories is seen by us particularly topical. In the course of the study, the main characteristics of the Arctic territories of the circumpolar states were identified, and their specific characteristics were determined. These include low population density, uncomfortable weather and climatic conditions, inaccessibility and farness of settlements from economic and administrative centres, the raw material orientation and non-diversified nature of the economy. The multidirectional migration processes, as well as migration influence on the characteristics of the population and, hence, on the structure and quality of human capital were determined as essential features of the territorial development of circumpolar countries. The main problems of the qualitative accumulation and effective use of human capital in the Arctic territories of the circumpolar countries, the key of which is the phenomenon of unemployment, were revealed. For the Arctic territories of Russia, poverty of the population, a high proportion of poor families with children, and low life expectancy have been were defined as a threat to the degradation of human capital. The general strategic lines of circumpolar states in the development of the Arctic territories which are relevant for the Russian state regulation of the development of the Arctic territories were determined. The study was carried out within the framework of project AAAA-A18-118051590118-0 “Comprehensive interdisciplinary research and economic and mathematical modeling of the socio-economic transformation and management of regions and municipalities of the North-Arctic territories of Russia”.

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Purpose of the study: To explore the consists of studying the opportunities for unlocking the potential of carrying out an entrepreneurial activity of big business within the Russian Arctic as a part of corporate social responsibility policy conducted by it. Methodology: The leading approach identified is the integrated approach which includes theoretical generalizations, analysis of practical activities of the corporations, and sociological methods of obtaining the information. Main Findings: The main concepts of big business management that contribute to boosting its entrepreneurial activity have been discussed, and opportunities for enhancing the entrepreneurial activity of big business within the Russian Arctic as a constituent of the corporate social responsibility policy have been found. Applications of this study: The materials of the paper are of practical importance for corporations working within the Russian Arctic. Novelty/Originality of this study: In the work, models of corporate social responsibility implemented by corporations of the Arctic states have been summarized.

The article discusses current issues of Arctic governance. The main motives of the growing interest of the world community to this region are revealed. Comparative analysis of the conceptual framework and key priorities of the Arctic policy of the Russian Federation and other circumpolar powers based on a study of their national Arctic strategies. It was determined that the main difference between the Russian model of managing the Arctic zone lies in the priority of exploitation of natural resources on the basis of creating an optimal configuration of the main factors of industrial production, while the policy of foreign northern countries is aimed primarily on the sustainable development of the Arctic territories and at achieving their social sustainability through the comprehensive development of Arctic local communities. In our opinion, it is advisable for the Russian Federation to apply such a model where the state vector of Arctic policy is oriented, first of all, to the social component of territorial development as for the basis for a comprehensive balanced development of the Arctic zone and for ensuring the country’s national security. Namely, – the implementation of the model of sustainable development of the Arctic territories, the main elements of which are rational and careful nature resource use in the Arctic zone, limitation of negative environmental impact and conservation of the biodiversity of the Arctic territories, orientation on the national policy not only on the indigenous peoples of the North, but also on the local population living here, improving the quality, conditions and standard of living, as well as close mutually beneficial international cooperation on municipal, regional and global levels.

In the current context of strengthening the existing and emerging challenges and threats for the economic security of the Russian Federation, studying structural transformations that define the immunity of the economic system to internal and external negative impacts seems quite essential and relevant. This paper aims at identifying main trends in structural transformations in the industrial production in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (or the RFAZ), which is strategic for the sustainable development of the national economy. For this purpose, the author executed an analysis of structural shifts and an estimation of the changes in the branch structure of industrial production in the Arctic regions in 2017–2019. The research was implemented on the basis of relative indicators for the types of economic activity in the total volume of dispatched goods produced domestically, works done and services provided by own efforts. The quantitative measurement of structural changes was made using the aggregate speed indicators (L. Kazints quadratic absolute structural changes coefficient (or the Kazints index)), intensity (K. Gatev integral structural shifts coefficient (or the Gatev index)) and a materiality level of structural changes (V. Ryabtsev integral coefficient of structural differences (or the Ryabtsev index)), as well as particular indices describing the weight, speed and index of structural shifts. It is found out that the structure of the industrial production in the RFAZ has not generally undergone significant changes for the period in question. This is explained by the multidirectionality of the dynamics in structural shifts at a regional level. Their analysis indicates that the orientation of the majority of Arctic region for mining of mineral resources becomes more pronounced that allows inferring the strengthening of structural disproportions in the industrial production of the Russian Arctic.