The purpose of the study is to substantiate the fact that a “smart city” can be considered as an ecosystem, but in practice it turns out to be its integral part, albeit a very signifcant one, as well as to analyze the main functions of the development of a modern urban economy built on the “smart city” project. The research methodology is represented by the theory of the urban and ecosystem development, biological analogies used in economics, comparative and taxonomic analysis.

As a result of the study, it is shown that a “smart city” can permeate the entire urban economy, but the latter is much wider, which allows using the concept of ecosystems in describing its development. There are the smart city main characteristics in terms of the following parameters: purpose, scope, functions, efciency, rules, development model, ways to improve. Models for the development of a smart city are identifed depending on the expansion, narrowing or invariance of the boundaries of urban space.

The article carries out a taxonomy of the basic functions of an ecosystem and a smart city with a demonstration that the concept of an ecosystem known in biology can be applied in economic analysis with signifcant limiting conditions, and the difference in the functions of typical ecosystems and, for example, a “smart city” increases the signifcance of those restrictions. with such an application. “Smart City” with its functions ensures the development of the information and communication technologies, ecology, quality of life, social functions and urban logistics. In order to maintain the level of “smartness” of the city, it is required to reduce the level of dysfunctions. It is those basic elements that form the directions for the development of the “smart city” project, that are determined by the amount of resources, and the initial technological, intellectual potential of each city.

In the presented paper, it is noted that the employee adaptation process in the industry company is one of the most important areas of modern practice in human resources management which is aimed at reducing staff turnover and improving the performance of enterprises. A characteristic of the concept of adaptation and the role of onboarding in the personnel management system is given within the framework of the conducted research, the purpose of which was to analyze the issues of employee adaptation in the industry companies and the possibilities of building special adaptation programs following current market trends. A number of directions of the employee adaptation are highlighted in the context of modern development trends: personalization, which is aimed at a specifc employee in the process of adaptation; digitalization of processes; socialization and cultural assimilation; coaching; improvement based on data (efciency evaluation of the methods used in the adaptation system). The main rules of adaptation of employees in companies are formed on the basis of the studied practice of successful onboarding. It is concluded that the phased implementation of the proposed program will reduce staff turnover rates and, in general, increase the efciency of the personnel at enterprises.

The article considers the development in the practice of fnancing the environmental measures, projects and programs, currently representing a signifcant part of the socio-economic policy of the state, since due to the production industrialization, there was a sharp increase in the negative impact of man on nature and environmental protection began becoming a priority and being comprehensive. The paper also focuses on the approaches to determining the sources, volumes and forms of fnancing the environmental protection measures during the existence of the Soviet Union, its experience in creating, for the frst time in the world practice, specialized environmental funds. In detail it studies already the Russian practice in which the positive results of the previous period were used and which received their practical implementation in the form of national projects and state programs.

As recommendations for improving the practice of fnancing environmental projects and programs, it is proposed to form and fnance interregional environmental projects and programs focused primarily on solving environmental protection issues and creating a comfortable standard of living in economic zones and macro areas of the largest urban agglomerations, and the formation of a more systematic approach to the process of environmental taxation.

Given the current economic challenges facing many countries around the world, the idea of fostering entrepreneurial activity became an important goal for many governments. The importance of entrepreneurship for economic development is emphasized by many researchers, and it is now well established that education and training opportunities play a key role in nurturing future entrepreneurs and in developing the abilities of active entrepreneurs to develop their businesses to higher levels of success. More globally, governments around the world are increasingly recognizing the positive impact that start-ups can have on the employment levels as well as competitive advantages that small frms can bring to the marketplace. Moreover, while entrepreneurship offers benefts in terms of social and economic growth, it also offers benefts in terms of personal fulfllment. Yet still, determining how small businesses can be transformed into growth-oriented frms remains elusive, and despite the breadth of research on the growth frms, researchers remain uncertain as to why some frms grow and others do not when they emerged in similar environments. The purpose of the paper is to determine what entrepreneurial skills are essential to develop a growth-oriented businesses and how those skills can be improved.

The article analyzes modern investment strategies in the stock market in terms of their effectiveness. Recommendations are given for the transformation and further development of investment strategies in modern economic conditions. The current state of the Russian stock market is considered. At present, the stock market plays an important role in the process of economic development and the redistribution of financial resources. Investment activity that stimulates business largely determines the pace of the development and economic growth of the country. The Russian stock market is in an active stage of development, there is a growing interest of investors in stock instruments as a means of stabilizing and increasing fnancial resources. That interest is fueled by the specifics of the Russian economy. At the same time, the structure of the stock market becomes more complex every year, being filled with an increasing number of various fnancial instruments. Making sound decisions about investing money in certain stock instruments, as well as determining the structure of a securities portfolio requires a comprehensive and in-depth analysis on the part of the investor. The most important condition for the implementation of the investor’s desire to receive an income adequate to his ideas is his ability to calculate the risks accompanying investments in securities. The article also carried out a comparative analysis of modern investment strategies based on an integrated approach that combines elements of fundamental and technical analysis. It also developed and applied an algorithm for evaluating the effectiveness of investment strategies in terms of the ratio of profitability and risk parameters, as well as proposed a number of modifications of the considered investment strategies, taking into account the characteristics and specifics of the Russian stock market.The results were obtained and conclusions were made about the effectiveness of investment strategies, options for their modifi cation, which are of significant practical importance both for professional stock market participants involved in the development of various investment products, and for private investors who want to decide on the choice of the most optimal investment strategy in the Russian stock market.

The article considers factors influencing the formation of the energy policy of the European Union. It shows the dependence of the evolution of the energy policy priorities on the ever-decreasing supply of energy resources in Europe. The forced need to import energy resource for sustaining the politically expedient economic growth of the EU countries has negative consequences in the form of an increase in the energy dependence of the member countries. In turn, that is reflected in the spread of the ideologeme about the unconditional need to increase the coordination of the national energy policies of the EU member states under the control of European supranational bodies. The author substantiates the conclusion about the strengthening of the trend towards communitarianization of the EU energy policy (that is, the growing role of supranational regulation in the area).

The purpose of the study is to theoretically substantiate the need for the development in Kazakhstan of such network forms of innovative entrepreneurship organization as research frms. In the study, general and particular methods of economic research were used: the method of comparison and generalization, the method of expert assessments based on the analysis and synthesis of world experience in the development of innovative entrepreneurship, in particular through the development of network interaction of key participants in the scientifc and innovative process. A research frm is a form of innovative entrepreneurship organization, primarily focused on the initiation, development and maintenance of new knowledge production processes, through the implementation of the main stages of research and development of prototypes, followed by a stage of practical application and introduction of new knowledge in the form of innovation. The research frm interprets and qualifes the disciplinary diversity of the experience of its employees and their competencies as a potential opportunity and asset for creative activity in the production and application of knowledge. The research frm is interested in creating networks with universities and other research institutes, driven by the desire to gain access to fundamental university research and their further transformation into an entrepreneurial asset. Thus, in accordance with world practice, one of the main directions of development of research frms in the modern economy is effective cooperation with academic research institutes and universities, which is not practiced at all in Kazakhstan. Therefore, it is within the framework of the functioning of research frms that the conflicting commercial and scientifc interests of the main participants in scientifc and innovative activities, including universities and research institutes, can be maximally harmonized.

Within the framework of the article, crimes of an extremist orientation are analyzed from the standpoint of a defnitive analysis, as well as the specifcs in constructing the object and the objective side of those crimes are investigated. At the same time, the authors, proceeding from their own scientific interests, limited the subject of our research to the method of committing an extremist crime - on the Internet and, accordingly, an analysis of the objective signs of those crimes of an extremist orientation will be carried out, in the main or qualifed composition of which such a method is provided - in particular Articles 280, 280.1, 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

The article deals with a defnition of the legal characteristics necessary to understand the category of “digital transformation” in the notary activities in Russia. It formulates the concept of “digital transformation” and studies the categories of “remote format” and “remote format” of notarial actions. The elements of legal mechanisms of remote and remote notarial actions in modern conditions are highlighted. There is an analysis in legislation on the notary and a determination on the necessary notarial document flow in electronic form. The paper also considers possibilities for using portals of state and municipal services in the activities of the notary, determines the advantages of the transition by notaries to electronic document management in the implementation by them of legally signifcant actions and carries out the analysis of the procedure for the remote commission of certain actions by notaries.