In modern society, certain socio-economic processes constantly occur. What are they? What role do they perform? How do they get their identity? All of these issues deserve careful consideration and analysis.
Introductory information
By socio-economic processes are meant changes in society that are displayed on its well-being, stability, security conditions and other similar things. They are due to the nature of the changes. Considering the process itself, the observer can endow it with special and unrelated properties. This somewhat complicates the understanding and prediction of the trends that provoke it. But if you delve into the essence, you can recall the words of L. Gumplovich, who argued that labor is the basis. It is an economic tool. If we talk about the social component, then, according to Gumplovich, this is the exploitation (robbery) of others. This is very attractive from a scientific and methodological point of view. Here, for example, if we examine the essence of exploitation from its position, we can notice that the emergence of a social structure does not always imply the existence of a state (as a political entity). While the presence of a connection between the various elements is not in doubt.
And what is their feature?
The thing is in close connection with the activities of business entities, large national-state systems and regions, which determines the scale, pace, goals and level of change. Socio-economic processes are based on the cycle of "innovation - investment." This predetermines the logic of the deployment of waves of economic conditions at each of the levels. You can recall the model of N. Kondratiev, which provides for the coordination of two global processes - growth and decline. What are its results? When a certain maximum is reached, the growth trend of production begins to be replaced by its decrease. At the same time, the volume of investments is decreasing. This inevitably leads to a slowdown in the pace of innovation processes. The decrease in their activity causes a decrease in production efficiency, contributes to the emergence of wars that pursue the redistribution of resources. This leads to higher product prices and lower labor costs. As a result, stagnation and the gradual formation of favorable conditions for an innovative breakthrough. That is, socio-economic problems act both as a limiter to the growth of well-being and as a basis for it. In this case, the goal-oriented vector of transformations often changes. This is due to the fact that measures are being introduced into public life, which are the programmatic setting of one of the organized and influential forces of society. This may be a certain social movement. In this case, as a rule, orientation is carried out on individual leaders of political influence, which determine and accumulate the opinion of the masses, as well as its behavioral and moral stereotypes. To describe such situations, a call-response cycle is used. To better understand this, we need a classification of socio-economic processes. Fortunately, it is not very large.
Non / controlled processes
Everything that happens in society can be regulated depending on the needs of individuals or social groups that are active participants. Based on this, non / controlled processes are distinguished. What does it mean? If we say that the process is controlled, then we mean the presence of a deep knowledge of the basics of its mechanisms, as well as factors and conditions that contribute to the strengthening or weakening of their manifestation in reality. What does it look like? As an example, we can cite the management of socio-economic processes, strengthening the role of individual actors, modeling various situations and the like. The main tools in this case are the support of role functions, which are assigned to certain participants, or the creation of institutions to structure the organization of the work of society.
An example is economic liberalization after the fall of the Soviet Union. She strengthened the role of the banking sector. This was manifested in facilitating the expansion of the sphere of credit and financial operations. This, in turn, required the concentration of control functions in the hands of the Central Bank. In fact, this was realized by issuing licenses to commercial structures, as well as developing a system of their accounting and financial reporting. Another example is a legislative order to submit information on the composition of property to all job seekers in public positions, as well as a declaration of income. This allows you to maintain transparency and publicity of the political activities of individuals and to achieve legitimacy in the choice of government. With uncontrolled processes easier. These include those that unfold spontaneously and do not imply the presence of certain entities or their groups, which may have a directed effect on the vector of its development. Loss of control over processes may occur in cases of inability to localize initiators due to the large number of participants.
About complex and simple processes
With the development of mankind, there is a constant increase and elaboration of the structure of relationships. Modern socio-economic processes are no exception. Their complication and growth of connections are constantly observed (albeit at different speeds). Now, for example, having only Internet access, you can get to know a person from almost anywhere in the world, and this is without leaving the room. But at the same time, there are simple processes. Such should be called those whose explanations allow one to fit into the scheme known to observers and the scientific community. And as a natural result - to evaluate and predict the outcome. A complex process is a change in society, for the explanation of which the existing methodological tools are not enough. Therefore, it is impossible to give an assessment to them, as well as to predict the outcome. Essentially, complex processes are a collection of simple ones. Moreover, their holistic perception is possible only through the synthesis of new or different approaches to analysis and subsequent explanation. It should be noted that there are no hard borders between them. Often they are determined by the experience and qualifications of the observers, the purpose of the research, and the extent of the problems facing the scientific community.
Non / reversible processes
There are many properties by which they can be considered. But the most important characteristic of socio-economic processes is their non / reversibility. What is their essence? The reversibility property is used to determine the dynamics of cyclic processes. This is useful, for example, in preparation for economic crises. The irreversibility property is used to explain socio-economic processes by progressive theories. They share the view that there is nothing repetitive in the formation of society. That is, each round of development is unique in itself. And trying to explain it using universal formulas is the wrong approach. The irreversibility of the process lies in the cumulative accumulation of properties and attributes that determine its qualitative heterogeneity. This leaves its mark on the forecasting of socio-economic processes.
Division into short, medium and long-term
Do not forget about the time interval. In this case, all processes are divided into short, medium and long term. The specific range of values for them depends on the variety and nature, as well as the objectives of the observation. A close examination highlights the following points:
- Short term process. It has a duration determined by the current goal or regulated by a document that assigns a narrow time-limited framework. As a rule, they call the term up to one year. Indeed, a large number of planning documents (programs, budgets, plans) are designed specifically for this period.
- Mid-term process. It covers ongoing social change in the foreseeable future. However, it is limited to a number of intermediate goals. Nevertheless, all together, they act as a condition that allows us to switch to a qualitatively new result, which is not initially determined. The duration of this process is up to five years. The exact timing depends on the goals of the initiators, as well as the composition of the participants.
- Long term processes. They do not imply the presence of an initially specified result. They are formed on a multicomponent and multifunctional basis. As a rule, they are poorly predicted. Therefore, they are described in the form of a script. Indeed, the modeling of socio-economic processes of this type is accompanied by a large number of errors and high requirements.
About macroeconomics
This science is of great importance. Why? When the conversation comes about the socio-economic processes of the development of society, then it plays a special role. Take, for example, short-term time periods. They affect the position of the market for goods and services, as well as the rigidity of prices (it is high). Why? The thing is that in the short term, manufacturers often consider price revisions to be inappropriate. In the long run, it must change to maintain a balance between supply and demand. That is, this science allows us to consider and solve various socio-economic problems, initially in theory and then in practice.
Solved problems with examples
Let's say we have a state. It takes care of social security. This is one of its most important functions. In order to know how much money will be needed now, there are no problems. But in a year? Okay, here the numbers will not change much. And in ten years? Thirty? Fifty? In order to answer these questions, it is necessary to predict what the situation will be. And more or less reliable information can be obtained only by studying what is already there. Consider the same social security. This is quite simple for modeling and understandable even for people who do not have wide knowledge. The forecast horizon is thirty years. For an even number - 2050. How many pensions will need to be paid then? How much will it be possible to do? After all, those who are currently working (and are just starting) will then retire and receive it (or be extremely close to it). At the same time, modern students, schoolchildren and kindergarteners, as well as children of young specialists, will take them for support. Labor and social protection of various layers of citizens are closely related to many factors. So, in order to ensure the payment of large pensions, it is necessary to ensure a high birth rate. For this, it is necessary to promote relevant values and create the necessary conditions.
How to characterize any process?
Outside of the above classification, mention should be made of:
- The scale. Used to measure the degree of involvement of subjects in this process. Moreover, the coverage of individual individuals or social groups suggests that it explores the micro level. If, however, cultures, ethnic groups, peoples are studied, then this is already a macro level. And the observer must be reoriented to a fundamentally different coordinate system.
- Directivity. It is characterized by a promotion vector, expresses orientation to a specific outcome.
- Intensity. It is expressed by the recognition of the significance of the results for the participants who are involved in the process. In fact, this is achieved thanks to publicity, with media coverage, awareness of the global consequences.
- Composition. It consists of participants, their place in the system of social division of labor and social stratification.
- Character. It manifests itself in the behavior of subjects that control and direct the process. It can be lethargic, swift, uniform or shaped.
About the scientific approach
How are socio-economic processes studied? Scientists distinguish the following elements:
- The participants.
- The initiator (subject).
- Causes.
- Observer.
Who are the participants? These are all active and passive members of society whose interests affect ongoing changes. By their number, they judge the scale, nature and level of coverage. An initiator is a participant who has significant resources that help maintain the direction and dynamics of social change. Usually they can significantly influence the course of changes in order to reproduce favorable conditions and achieve the expected result. It should be noted that the initiator may fulfill his role unconsciously. The reasons are that it allows all participants in the process to unite, acting as a cementing base in order to discard all disagreements and begin to work towards achieving the set goal. For those who do not understand, Section 4 is a scientist who is directly involved in the study. According to the most observers, they are the most significant element for the perception and evaluation of socio-economic processes. It should be noted that often this point of view is not without meaning. After all, observers are (ideally) scientists, specialists and practitioners who can formulate key standards for assessment, measurement and regulation. Thanks to them, you can control and simulate the course of events.