The article is devoted to the theoretical study of the little-studied issue of the specifics of modern financial capitalism economic actor. The aim of the work is to identify the risks of becoming homo finansus along the lines of stability and development as the most promising coordinates for studying the behavior of complex systems. The work provides an in-depth analytical review of foreign and domestic materials on the topic. The synthesis of motives of homo finansus behavior from the position of key financial parameters is carried out. The attitude to risk taking as the only possibility to ensure material well-being and internal perfection, and to debt as a natural state, which is seen as a form of financial fetishism, is established. The orientation of homo finansus to hypertrophied autonomy delegates to the individual level threats that are systemic in nature and cannot be adequately handled by the community of investors. This phenomenon reveals the preparation of the ground for the dismantling of nation-states. The exclusive interest in the circulation of financial assets denies the category of creativity, which is interpreted as an attempt to stop development and fix the status quo.

The article analyzes the differences in views on the model of human behavior held by heterodox schools of economic thought and the mainstream (orthodox) economics. It demonstrates the relationship with other directions in economic theory, with particular emphasis on comparing the views of the Austrian school and the orthodox stream. In this context, the comparative analysis presented draws attention to the distinctive features of views on the human model and possible prospects for their development.

The purpose of the work: to determine the most advantageous structure of a leasing transaction from the lessee's point of view. The author used empirical and analytical research methods, calculated an approximate schedule of leasing payments during restructuring, and constructed aggregated tables and diagrams based on Expert RA data. The result of the study is as follows: the payment burden, all other things being equal, is lower in leasing than in a loan, which is explained by the distribution of the risk balance: property risk, including a comfortable LTV level, the possibility of remarketing and a forecast of rates of return on property when leasing it; credit risk, including the financial condition of the lessee, the experience of business beneficiaries and management in the industry. Structuring a leasing transaction with the participation of a closed-end mutual fund is possible, but the lessee must be the management company of this closed-end mutual fund. This mechanism is interesting from the point of view of saving on income tax, since the profit of a closed-end mutual fund is not subject to it. Thus, during periods of crisis, leasing companies need to use the most effective and resource-saving methods of implementing transactions, as well as preventing the bankruptcy of lessees.

The choice of a higher education institution is a complex process that depends on many factors and consists of several stages. Models of university selection are designed to reflect and explain this process, thus bringing theoretical and practical benefits in the development and decision-making of government agencies, international organizations and universities. The modern educational environment poses new conditions and the existing models do not reflect the situation in full. One of the ways to form an up-to-date model is to study the accumulated experience. Purpose of the work: to compile a set of criteria that should be met by the model of choosing a university in the modern educational environment. Object: the process of choosing a university, subject: models of choosing a university.

The aim of the paper is to differentiate electronic and virtual approaches to leadership, and to highlight practices and future directions for research. The authors summarize the role, essence and key features of virtual and e-leadership. By applying the comparative method, the paper identifies their similarities and differences, as well as the main advantages and disadvantages of electronic and virtual leadership. The authors point out the application of modern approaches to leadership in domestic and foreign organizations, and identify universal factors and attitudes influencing the development of virtual and electronic leadership. They emphasize that further research is needed to identify the psychological, cross-cultural, and other aspects of leadership. In conclusion it is noted that with the development of virtual and electronic leadership, the nature of the relationship between the leader and the team is transformed.

   Digital twins (DT) are one of the key technologies in the era of digital transformation. The Gartner Analytical agency offers an important tool for analyzing the level of technology maturity and forecasting its further development, which in turn allows us to identify trends that contribute to the further evolution of the technology.
   The purpose of the article is to analyze the place of technology on the Gartner curve and identify the features of its evolution in the context of digital transformation over the period 20162024. The study used the method of comparative analysis of Gartner curves, which showed that data centers are at the stage of inflated expectations in a number of areas, but in industry they are gradually moving to the stage of reaching a plateau of productivity.
   Based on the analysis of Gartner curves and forecasts of the growth of the twin market, it was concluded that this technology will be increasingly in demand in industry to improve business processes, manage the organization, and increase efficiency. Also, the analysis revealed a growth trend in the DT market and financial indicators, and the ten-year forecast of market development indicates a trend towards 39% CARG in the period 2024-2033.

The article considers the possibility of applying innovations based on distributed ledger technology in financial sector as a factor in increasing the competitiveness of states with different levels of economic development. The purpose of the study is to identify such innovations that exist at the beginning of 2025, as well as to identify the risks associated with their implementation. The research materials and methods include a systematic analysis of the existing literature, as well as empirical data on the introduction of technology in the financial sector. The results of the study showed that countries with developed economies are more actively implementing technology, which allows them to maintain their competitive advantages in the international arena. At the same time, technology opens up new opportunities for developing countries to access finance and improve the transparency of financial transactions. The study suggests that the innovations under study have the potential to significantly increase the competitiveness of economies. However, their successful implementation requires an integrated approach that considers the specifics of innovative products, as well as the risks and barriers associated with them for each economy.

The article is devoted to the issues of measuring sustainable development, indices, and indicators of environmentally sustainable development. The first part compares the global indices as adjusted net savings, human development index, happiness index, inclusive growth index. The dynamics of global level indices and the factors of their change are studied in detail. The main focus is on studying the possibilities of adapting global-level indices for Russia and its regions. The second part highlights the possibilities of using national-level indices and indicators for regional comparisons. Attention is drawn to the importance of energy and material intensity, as well as ESG criteria.

On the basis of practical cases on the settlement of price and tariff disputes, theoretical knowledge, the Centre for Economic and Legal Expertise (hereinafter also the Centre) has set itself the task in autumn 2024 to exchange professional opinions with regulators, business, exchanges, price agencies, the Chamber of Tax Consultants on how the development of price indicators is carried out in Russia and whether Russian business is ready to fully use the Russian price indicators. Within the framework of the round table, the points of view of various groups of actors in the economic life of the country were widely presented – from government institutions to business and specialized experts. The participants of the discussion outlined the problems that need to be solved on the way to the formation of indicators (from the accumulation of relevant market information to overcoming mutual distrust between government and business), and also shared their experience in the formation of exchange and over-the-counter price indicators.

The article presents an overview of the discussion hold on February 20, 2025 at the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University in a mixed format at the theoretical seminar «Discussion Problems of Modern Social Science and Economic Thought» on the topic «Posteconomy as a Fantastic Property of Our Time».

The article is devoted to an overview of the content of the conference named "Political Economy of Growth and Development", dedicated to the 220th anniversary of the Department of Political Economy, Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. The main objective of the conference was to gather researchers working in various fields of economic thought, as well as specialists from other social sciences, to discuss a wide range of issues related to economic growth and socio-economic development. The conference brought together major Russian and foreign scientists, business representatives, and also provided an opportunity for aspiring researchers to make a statement. During 10 sessions, 5 special reports and a round table, issues related to the impact of scientific and technological progress on economic growth, problems related to social and historical aspects of economic dynamics, the role of the financial system in the successful functioning of the economies of the world, etc. were discussed. Despite the differences in views and belonging to different areas of economic thought, the speakers share a highly critical view of the current problems of economic development.