Foreign experience in regulating the activities of large corporate structures in the extraction of Arctic resources
Authors:   Russian Academy of Sciences, ANDREEVA Polina Aleksandrovna 
Published: November 2020

Relevance. In terms of implementing large production projects, the Arctic is one of the most challenging regions in the world. This is due to geographic remoteness, extreme temperatures, difficult ice conditions, a vulnerable environment and the presence of indigenous people concerned about any outside interference. Global experience shows that the development of the Arctic territories is untenable without participation of large corporations and their implementation of large-scale Arctic projects. The capabilities of medium-sized businesses to influence the development of the Arctic territories are incomparable with the capabilities of large corporate structures in terms of their system-forming effects. At the same time, ensuring the necessary investments for the development of the Arctic territories requires improving the state regulation of subsoil use from the position of strengthening the incentive nature of the system of measures used. The purpose of the study is to generalize and analyze foreign experience in regulating the process of developing subsoil resources in foreign Arctic countries. Research methods – a systematic approach, generalizations, comparative analysis, comparisons, etc. Results. The experience of subsoil use regulation in the Arctic territories in the USA (Alaska), Canada, Norway, Denmark and Russia is generalized and analyzed. It has been determined that the approaches to regulating the process of developing subsoil resources are correlated with the state structure of the countries: unitary or federal. The form of subsoil ownership in each of the listed countries and the procedure for granting subsoil plots for use are considered. Most attention is paid to the economic mechanism of regulation. It is proved that, depending on the economic model, measures to support corporate business and economic incentives used by countries to achieve strategic goals in the Arctic have many differences, but a similar nature. Special tax regimes, rent control measures, financial support, which is in the nature of investments, and other financial instruments are used as incentives. The specificity of the tax policy of each of the countries under consideration is disclosed, a number of factors influencing the amount of royalties, the procedure for the distribution of collected taxes on corporations in the Arctic zone between the budgets of the federation and provinces, etc., are determined. Common tools for all states have been identified and the existence of coordination procedures has been confirmed to harmonize the interests of corporations and the state. The experience of taxation of regional corporations in the Arctic territories of Russia and its disadvantages are briefly highlighted. Conclusions. The imperfection of the institutional framework of the Russian Arctic requires the adoption of new legislative acts, as well as changes in taxation, the implementation of a system of incentives from the state. It is advisable to use many elements of the economic mechanism of foreign countries to expand the capabilities of corporations involved in the development of Arctic subsoil resources.