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The Russian agro-industrial complex has demonstrated consistent growth in recent years. However, this growth is characterized by significant asymmetries, driven by the increasing dominance of large agricultural holdings and the persistent vulnerability of small agricultural producers. Growing holdingization and the small farms displacement impose constraints on the development of rural areas, reduce the sustainability of growth rates in agricultural production, and contribute to rapid increases in food prices. While the agro-industrial complex benefits from preferential tax policies, including a zero percent profit tax rate, these tax regimes are not differentiated between large agricultural holdings and smaller agricultural enterprises, unlike in other sectors where small businesses receive targeted fiscal support. There are opportunities to promote competition through tax policy designed to reduce industry monopolization. This study provides a quantitative analysis of concentration trends across sectors of the agro-industrial complex from 2016 to 2023, highlighting significant increases in market concentration within pork, poultry, and sugar production and prospects for further monopolization. The paper evaluates tax burden on agriculture in comparison with other industries, as well as the potential for increasing it for large agricultural holdings. According with public finance theory, the study proposes differentiated tax measures for small and large agricultural producers. On the one hand, it advocates for stricter eligibility criteria for the zero rate for profit tax and the unified agricultural tax for enterprises affiliated with agricultural holdings. On the other hand, it recommends additional tax incentives and subsidies for small and young agricultural producers, such as reduced unified agricultural tax rates and compensation for VAT payments.

The purpose of the article is to update the issues of rooting professional standardization in the Russian entrepreneurship system in order to ensure the competitiveness of the latter at the current stage of the development of the Russian economy. Based on the functional theory of entrepreneurship and ideas about entrepreneurship as a special type of professional activity in the system of division of social labor, which are gradually taking root in the scientific perception of the phenomenon under consideration, the author systematizes the topics of analysis, consistently focusing on issues of increased interest in the academic and business communities. These include the terminological fixation of the meaning and features of the subject of entrepreneurship as a type of professional activity; identification of the unique place and importance of entrepreneurship in the system of division of social labor; consideration of the key features of entrepreneurial employment, which does not provide for the entry of business entities into labor relations with employers; research of ways to harmonize the basic characteristics of entrepreneurship as a type of professional activity through standardization of the latter; substantiation of the importance of adopting the professional standard "Entrepreneur" for increasing the competitiveness of the Russian national economy and Russian education in an environment of increased competition in global markets; identification of contradictions in the regulatory framework that narrow the corridor of possibilities for adopting the professional standard "Entrepreneur" and identification of directions for its consistent expansion. The special objects of consideration are the labor functions of entrepreneurs in a competitive environment, the differences between professional and non-professional entrepreneurship, the multifunctional and intersectoral nature of the professional standard "Entrepreneur", the composition of the areas of application of the latter through the regulation of entrepreneurs' communications with their environment, the industry specification of the qualification characteristics of entrepreneurship as a type of professional activity.

The article discusses in detail the legal and managerial aspects of the establishment and payment of remuneration to members of the board of directors of joint-stock companies in Russia. The work raises the issue of legal uncertainty and contradictions in the application of the current legislation and by laws, as well as corporate recommendations regarding bonuses. The basis of the analysis was regulatory documents (Civil Code of the Russian Federation, federal laws on AO and LLC), clarifications of authorized bodies (Bank of Russia, the Ministry of Finance, Rosimunstra), judicial precedents and the practice of the companies themselves. The key problem discussed in the work is the lack of a clear regulation of the sources of bonuses in the legislation: should they be paid exclusively from net profit, as the Federal Property Management Agency insists, or other sources, as follows from the position of the Bank of Russia. The author indicates a legal conflict between the recommendations of regulatory authorities and real corporate practice, when companies, especially with state participation, strive to minimize risks and refuse to pay in the absence of profit, even if the decision on payment was made by the general meeting of shareholders. The article discusses the conditions under which the decision of the meeting of shareholders on the payment of bonuses can be invalidated, including as an interest transaction, and in what cases its subsequent contest or cancellation is possible. Examples from arbitration practice are analyzed, including the contradictory approaches of the courts of different instances to interpret the same norms. The author also affects the issue of subsidiary liability of members of the board of directors in the framework of bankruptcy cases, and also discusses potential mechanisms for protecting the interests of minority shareholders. Methods of calculating bonuses and variability of intra-corporate regulations are revealed: from fixed payments to complex formulas taking into account participation in meetings, availability of profit, execution of additional functions, reference to dividend policy and other KPIs. The author offers a rethinking of universal approaches, promoted in the corporate governance code, insisting on the need for a differentiated approach, taking into account the specifics of the company, its property structure and position in the market. The article systematizes practice and identifies problem areas, and also offers recommendations for the formation of more stable and balanced mechanisms for material stimulation of members of the board of directors, taking into account the modern realities of corporate governance in Russia.

Considering the involvement of businesses in the ESG agenda, the authors proposed a structured matrix of 6 areas of the Sustainable Development Goals and examined their impact on the development of an ESG compliance system in order to form the most organic business model, as well as flexible business reformatting models, including through M&A (Merger and Acquisition) transactions. The business is moving towards the implementation of the ESG agenda in various business models, including expanding the scope of operation towards effective concentration and creation of ecosystems based on digital solutions and artificial intelligence tools. At the intersection of two global strategic processes (the process of economic concentration of companies and the process of sustainable development), a new factor has been identified – mergers and acquisitions, modeled within the framework of ESG programs, which become the most valuable in the development strategy of the combined companies. In the context of the importance of environmental, social and corporate business transformation, the article presents the author's view on the place and role of ESG groups of factors in initiating M&A transactions. Accordingly, the proposed article is of interest to companies envisaging the creation and development of ESG compliance and considering potential participation in concentration processes. In the near future, the demands of environmental, social and corporate business transformation will actively drive companies to create the most effective alliances that ensure the sustainable development of society. This article is a logical continuation of the previously published article "The motivational role of the ESG factor in economic concentration transactions" (issue of the journal no. 5 for 2023).

Today, management faces problems associated with a significant change in the business environment. When managing an organization in such conditions, constantly changing data can force managers to postpone decision-making in search of greater analytical accuracy. Also, uncertainty interferes with the implementation of a detailed plan. In this regard, to manage an organization in modern conditions, it is necessary to use methods that provide for forecasting and an objective assessment of management contradictions. The ERP system will help solve these main problems. However, even modern ERP systems have limitations that do not allow them to quickly and effectively analyze the huge flow of information generated by modern business processes. Artificial intelligence technologies can be used to solve this problem. The article discusses the problems of implementing AI solutions in ERP systems and proposes solutions to improve the efficiency of business processes for operational decision-making in modern conditions. Currently, the development of modern enterprises is no longer conceivable without the use of technologies based on artificial intelligence, which is one of the key trends in economic development both in Russia and in the world. Based on literature review and empirical data analysis, the authors of the article consider what steps need to be taken to develop new technologies in business and how to improve the data environment. The authors focus on the fact that, despite the enormous potential, AI solutions face a number of difficulties in their implementation. The article concludes that the implementation of AI solutions in modern ERP systems is an effective solution for managing a modern enterprise, since such solutions are already capable of significantly simplifying business process management by automating tasks and providing real-time analytics.

This article addresses the pressing issue of improving business process management systems within project and survey organizations amidst the ongoing digital transformation. It posits the necessity of developing a specialized methodology for assessing the maturity of business process management, one that accounts for the specific characteristics of this sector. The authors conduct an analysis of existing approaches to business process maturity assessment (CMMI, PEMM, COBIT), demonstrating their limited applicability to project and survey activities due to the high degree of project uniqueness and dependence on external factors. As a solution, a multi-criteria model for maturity assessment is proposed and developed, encompassing 22 criteria organized into 8 thematic groups, covering both managerial and technological dimensions. The research outcomes include the development of an adapted methodology for assessing the maturity of business process management, integrating managerial and technological facets of project and survey organizations' operations. Maturity levels for business processes are proposed, linked to specific digitalization tools. The study concludes that the developed methodology enables a comprehensive evaluation of the current level of business process management maturity, identification of problem areas, and determination of avenues for improvement. The theoretical significance of the research lies in advancing the theory of business process management as applied to project and survey activities. The authors highlight the practical significance in the potential use of the developed methodology for diagnosing business process management systems and making informed decisions on their improvement, with the aim of enhancing overall company efficiency. It is noted that the proposed methodology can serve as a basis for forming digital transformation strategies in the project and survey industry; however, its application requires consideration of regional regulatory features. The authors identify the integration of blockchain and IoT solutions to enhance the accuracy of project assessment and management in real-time as a promising direction for future research.

The article examines the pressing issue of trade regulation in the food products sector amid the development of omnichannel sales and the growing influence of marketplaces. Special attention is paid to analyzing the restrictions established by trade law regarding agency agreements for retail chains in the context of changed market conditions. The research is based on the results of a sociological survey conducted by ROMIR in 2024, which included in-depth interviews with 18 experts – representatives of supplier companies of various scales. Based on the analysis of the obtained data, the authors identify key factors influencing the choice of sales channels by food producers and evaluate the effectiveness of existing forms of contracting. The article argues that the current ban on the use of agency agreements by retail chains creates unequal regulatory conditions compared to marketplaces. The authors conclude that there is a need to adjust legislation considering the changed forms of sales organization in the food sector. The theoretical significance of the research lies in developing an understanding of the transformation of trading practices in the context of digitalization. The practical value consists in developing recommendations for improving trade regulation, taking into account modern trends in food retail development and the interests of all participants.