The article examines the peculiarities of the formation of the public servants' integrity system and the strategic pathways for enhancing its efficiency in the Republic of Armenia within the context of contemporary digital transformation. The relevance of the research is determined by the imperative to ensure transparency in the public administration system and to restore public trust in state institutions. The authors comprehensively analyze the legal, structural, and cultural foundations of integrity, placing particular emphasis on the role of digital technologies as a pivotal tool for mitigating corruption risks and increasing institutional accountability. The research employs analytical and comparative methods to discuss international best practices, specifically the integrity standards of the OECD and the European Union, as well as the possibilities for their integration into the RA public service system. Special attention is paid to digital monitoring, electronic asset declarations and automated oversight mechanisms, which reduce human subjectivity and patronage. As a result of the study, gaps in the current system are identified, and practical solutions are proposed. These are aimed at implementing unified digital integrity standards, improving the meritocratic system, and providing continuous professional and ethical training for public servants. This research may be beneficial to public policymakers and researchers in the field of public administration.
The structural characteristics of the existing school financing system in Armenia are not always aligned with the objective of ensuring educational outcomes. Schools operate under substantially different conditions ‒ including highland, mountainous, and lowland communities, as well as varying socioeconomic environments ‒ while the inefficient allocation and nontargeted use of financial resources further deepen inequalities among schools. In the Republic of Armenia, financing for general education institutions is implemented within the state budget through a normative funding methodology. Since 2022, Armenia has transitioned to a class-based financing model, which differs significantly from the previously used per-student funding approach. Subsequently, pursuant to the Government of the Republic of Armenia Decision No. 850-N of June 26, 2025, the mechanisms for data calculation were refined, and the funding norms and coefficients were revised. The financing structure comprises both variable and fixed components. The transition to class-based financing was primarily intended to mitigate the financial vulnerability of small and border-area schools. Under the previous methodology, a decline in student enrolment automatically resulted in reduced funding, despite the persistence of fixed operational costs. The new approach provides a certain degree of stability by linking funding to the number of classes rather than solely to student enrolment. At present, the volume of financing is determined mainly by structural and quantitative indicators, whereas the quality of education, students’ academic performance, and the effectiveness of school management are not directly incorporated into the funding formula. As a result, the system primarily ensures predictability and administrative simplicity rather than performance-oriented educational outcomes.
The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the RA foreign trade based on data for 2015-2024. The study examined the level of openness of the Republic of Armenia's foreign trade, the dynamics of exports and imports, the commodity and geographical structure, as well as the degree of dependence of the economy on foreign markets. The study identified existing structural changes and development trends by calculating export and import quotas, the trade openness index, the Grubel–Lloyd index, and the export and import intensity indices. The Armenian economy has not been left out of the consequences of geopolitical changes in particular, the RussianUkrainian conflict. The results of the analysis showed that, starting in 2022, Armenia's foreign trade was characterized by a sharp increase in exports and imports due to the intensification of re-export processes. Armenia has become a link between Russia and third countries, significantly impacting the structure and volume of the country's foreign trade. At the same time, a high concentration of foreign trade was observed, both in terms of commodities and geography. This phenomenon significantly increases the the economy's vulnerability to external shocks and underscores the need to review its foreign economic policy.
This article examines the potential for the development of trade relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation, focusing not on actual trade volumes but on unrealized opportunities. Using quantitative tools to assess international trade and official statistical data, the article identifies product groups in which Armenia has comparative advantage but continues to hold limited positions in the Russian import market. The analysis indicates that the main constraints on trade growth are structural and institutional, outweighing the impact of purely productive factors. Consequently, it is argued that realizing the untapped export potential could become a key prerequisite for the qualitative transformation of Armenia–Russia economic cooperation.
The integration of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles has become a key component of the modern international investment process. This article discusses how ESG principles have been developed and theoretically substantiated, how they are applied across different regions of the world, and what impact they have on investment returns and risks. First, the theoretical foundations of ESG are presented, including its historical development, the nature of its components, and the investment strategies through which investors continue to integrate ESG factors into their decision-making. Then, an international comparative analysis is conducted, highlighting the prevalence of ESG investment approaches and regulations in the European Union, the United States, Asia, and emerging markets. Through secondary analysis, the results of a number of studies are summarized, in which the impact of ESG on companies’ profitability and risks has been assessed. The results show that, in the long term, ESG integration generally does not reduce returns and often improves them, while also serving as a protective cushion during periods of decline. The article attempts to prove that the deeper integration of ESG principles into international investment decisions is not only an ethical imperative, but also a rational approach to ensuring long-term sustainable returns. At the end of the article, conclusions and recommendations are formulated to improve policies and instruments and combine profitability and sustainability.
