The Federal State Statistics Service, the Russian public organisation “Russian Association of Statisticians” and the Territorial branch of the Federal State Statistics Service in the Tula Region were conference organisers. Alexey Ponomarenko, Chairman of the Russian Association of Statisticians and Director of the International Institute of Statistical Education at the HSE, headed the organising committee while Irina Masakova, Deputy Head of the Federal State Statistics Service (ROSSTAT), led the editorial board.

The conference generated far-reaching response from the scientific community and practitioners of statistics. Participants of the online conference included 96 representatives of 33 regions of the Russian Federation (with 75 papers). Professors, associate professors, graduate students and students of 11 educational institutions of higher education actively contributed to the conference. The authors of most of the papers are 32 specialists of ROSSTAT territorial branches, and their geographical coverage spans from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka.

The conference participants reviewed current trends in statistical analysis and evaluation of socio-economic processes in the regions. Overview of the development of the state statistical service in Russia received priority attention. The conference enabled an exchange of experience between participants, including those from the territorial branches of the state statistics service.

The section of the online conference that attracted greatest interest was the “Socio-economic development of the region – main activities”. It comprised the largest number of papers (32 papers, or 43% of the total). These papers discussed the theoretical basis and practical approaches to the analysis of the status and development of various sectors of economy and society, such as manufacturing, small business, investment, innovation, the standard of living, labor market, education and so on.

18 papers (24%) addressed the development of statistical science, history of the formation in the state statistics service in Russia and its significance for the state and the society.

“Demographic statistics – the basis for statistical surveys and inferences” was covered in 13 papers (17%). They focus on statistical information, which is the basis for the development and implementation of territorial socio-economic programs. The authors provided data on the current state and prospects of the demographic situation and the factors affecting it.

Of particular importance was a discussion of the issues related to the statistical evaluation of agricultural development. 12 papers (16%) were prepared on “Agriculture as one of the most important aspects of sustainable development in the region”. They investigated the regional characteristics of the current condition and the development of agriculture.

The editorial board of the conference reviewed the results and compiled a volume of conference proceedings which was officially registered with the National Agency of ISBN and will be circulated to all participants with a certificate of publication.

The All-Russian scientific and practical online conference “Statistics: The History and The Present” allowed the participants to share experiences, identify challenges, express their opinions on addressing the urgent issues that confront the society today.

Head of the Territorial Branch of the Federal State Statistics Service in the Tula Region,

First Deputy Chairman of the RASt Executive Board

V.V. Nekhaev