The Essential Challenge of “Economic Security”

Issues of national security are of particular scientific interest because without it. It is impossible to imagine the existence of any state. Protecting the economic and social interests of the population has long been one of the prerogatives of public policy, which has expanded to information security of the people in the face of rapid digitalization of all spheres of life and the introduction of information attack as a new form of weapon. In this context, it is essential to conduct a thorough study of primary scientific papers on economic, social and information security. In this work, it is proposed to use quantitative and qualitative bibliometric analysis methods, which allows to identify the main trends and form a basis for further research. The information basis for this work was the international scientometric database Scopus and SciVal by Elsevier, which allows you to analyze bibliographic data using built-in tools and import them for external use in the software VOSviewer. Bibliographic information is presented from the 1930s to June 2021. The results show that in the world, the most researched is the topic of first, social, second, information, and third, economic security. At the same time, these studies are interdisciplinary, mainly at the intersection of economic and social sciences and information security at the intersection of economic and mathematical, computer sciences. The analysis of time trends changes the number of scientific papers on economic, social and information security in Scopus database shows their gradual growth. In contrast, information security has the fastest growth rate. The study of geographical trends shows that economic security research occurs mainly in the United States, the Russian Federation and Ukraine (the funding of research confirms this at the expense of the relevant ministries and foundations). Social security is mostly studied in English-speaking and European countries (United States, United Kingdom, Germany). Information security research is concentrated in English-speaking (United States, United Kingdom) and China, India. The qualitative bibliographic analysis allowed to analyze the most cited, and hence the trend works on selected topics, confirming the multidisciplinary nature of the work. In addition, a cluster analysis of co-occurrence of keywords was coducted, which formed clusters devoted to social, economic, socio-psychological, legal and other issues.

This paper analyzes the differing policy responses of Southeast Asian countries – such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines – to the US–China competition over critical mineral resources. It also examines how these countries prioritize various national interests, including economic development, resource security, and policy autonomy. The study finds that Malaysia primarily adopts a light hedging approach, balancing economic cooperation with both the United States and China to maintain the stability and development of the rare earth supply chain. Simultaneously, it leverages external resources to drive industrial modernization, demonstrating high flexibility and policy independence. In contrast, the Philippines, as an upstream supplier of nickel resources, employs a heavier hedging strategy. While deeply embedded in China's supply chain, it gradually attracts investments from the United States and its allies to reduce dependence on a single market. The differences in these strategies reflect how resource‐based Southeast Asian countries adjust their policies to balance economic development and security needs amid geopolitical rivalries based on their resource endowments and supply chain positions. Malaysia's approach emphasizes balance and economic benefits, while the Philippines' strategy highlights dual objectives of resource security and industrial upgrading. Indonesia has also maintained a light hedging strategy in response to US–China strategic competition, prioritizing the development of a critical mineral industry centered on nickel. This approach aims to promote foreign trade and industrial growth in a rational and strategic manner, thereby maximizing economic gains. Vietnam, by contrast, occupies an intermediate position among the three countries, adopting a moderate hedging strategy that leverages its advantage in rare earth and other mineral resources to strengthen cooperation with major powers. However, due to ongoing tensions between China and Vietnam, their cooperation on critical minerals remains uncertain and warrants further observation. With Trump's re‐election and the increasingly intense trade war between China and the United States, critical mineral resources are bound to become a core and crucial point of competition between the two countries in the coming period. Whether it is Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, or the Philippines, adopting relatively independent mineral policies not only helps safeguard their own economic security but also offers valuable lessons and inspiration for other resource‐rich small states in Southeast Asia.

The study determines that Ukraine's national interests are in the sustainable development of the national economy, integration into the European economic area, the development of equal and mutually beneficial economic cooperation with other states. It is highlighted that an important place in the security sector is occupied by challenges related to russia's armed aggression. The content of such a category as "economic security" is analysed and existing approaches to its definition are considered. It is proposed that the essence of economic security can be presented as a state of security of self-sufficient development of the country, which guarantees sustainable growth of economic indicators, effective satisfaction of the needs of the population, protection of the interests of the state at the national and international levels through the successful implementation of financial, industrial, foreign economic, investment, innovation and macroeconomic security tasks. A systematic fragmentary analysis of the main indicators characterising the economic security of Ukraine is carried out. It is noted that the indicators of all the main components of economic security remain low, with high risks of large-scale destabilisation in the development of the economy in the long term. The author suggests factors for improving the level of economic security of Ukraine in the context of russia's military aggression and the reconstruction of Ukraine in the post-war period.

In the context of global climate changes and the growth of the world's birth rate, effective ecological and economic security is strategically important for ensuring sustainable development of the country and international cooperation. The transition to a low-carbon, energy-efficient economy and the development of innovative technologies are becoming key factors in ensuring environmental and economic sustainability and security. The purpose of the article is to define and substantiate the patterns of development of the theory of ecological and economic security of the national economy. The results of the analysis showed the growth of scientific publications in the period from 2009 to 2022. Based on the analysis of the latest research and publications, it was found that the analysis of the sustainability of agricultural systems, agricultural land use and water management in the context of ecological and economic security of the national economy is a significant contribution to the research. Other directions of research include institutional, financial, investment and innovation aspects of the formation of the theory of ecological and economic security. Taking into account energy aspects and their impact on the overall security of the national economy is important for the further development of the theoretical base in this direction. Based on the results of the bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on ecological and economic security of the national economy, the authors established the existence of seven geographical clusters, the main participants of which include such countries as China, India, the United States of America, Germany and others. It is recorded that intensive research on this topic began in Ukraine in 2017-2018 due to political and economic challenges. The authors substantiated the regularities of the development of the theory of ecological and economic security of the national economy.

Purpose. This study substantiates the shift toward “hard” economic security in Eastern Europe under sustained military and hybrid threats (2014–2025) and develops a composite Hard Economic Security Index (HESI) for cross-country comparison. Methodology. The research combines institutional-structural, comparative, and risk-oriented approaches. Quantitative procedures include indicator selection and operationalization, min–max normalization, composite index construction, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for domain weighting. The framework integrates multidimensional assessment across energy security, defence-industrial capacity, hybrid and cyber resilience, technological autonomy, and institutional stability. Visualization is used to present cross-country differences. Findings. The article assesses how five author-selected factors contribute to the dynamics of the resilience indicator in the context of war-related disruption, energy coercion, technological constraints, and hybrid pressure. It proposes and empirically tests HESI, enabling the ranking of selected Eastern European countries by their capacity to sustain core economic functions under military and hybrid escalation. The results indicate differentiation across cases and suggest that resilience depends on the configuration and balance of capabilities rather than on any single variable. The analysis highlights a regional transition from “soft” economic security logics toward securitized, risk-control-based policy. Originality. The study demonstrates that the global and regional indices available do not provide an integrated measurement of economic security tailored to military and hybrid confrontation. HESI offers an original composite tool that consolidates economic, security, technological, cyber, and institutional dimensions into a unified analytical model suitable for structured comparison under conditions of systemic disruption. Practical value. The proposed framework provides a practical toolkit for policymakers and researchers in diagnosing vulnerabilities, prioritizing resilience investments, and designing coherent hard economic security strategies. HESI can be applied to strategic planning, monitoring of adaptation policies, and refinement of national and EU-level economic security measures for states exposed to persistent military and hybrid risks.

The economy is a key element in the lives of individuals, societies and nations, which is why maintaining economic stability is considered one of the most important national challenges. Today, countries face serious global challenges, including climate change, terrorism and political strife, making a resilient and secure economy particularly important. Economic security at the state level is a complex set of socio-economic factors, encompassing everything from production processes to potential threats to the economy. Developing effective measures to protect national interests in the economy is a critical task for Russia, which aspires to leadership in the global economy and geopolitics. This study used the methods of documentary analysis, statistical analysis, legislative research and comparative methodology. The article analyzes international and national strategies to ensure economic security, including the situation in Russia. The criteria for assessing the state management of the economy, as well as the associated problems and risks are summarized. Finally, based on foreign experience, recommendations for improving economic security management in Russia are presented. The recommendations emphasize the importance of innovations and strategies to ensure economic equilibrium and security in a world changing under the influence of globalization processes. The article will be of interest to economists, politicians, researchers of global risk problems, as well as students and teachers of economic disciplines studying the issues of national economic security and public economic management.

Economic security is a condition for a balanced and stable State. The transformation of the social, political and economic state of Russia, together with changes in market conditions on a global scale, indicate the need to consider theoretical approaches to determining economic security as one of the relevant issues that form the basis for the protection and preservation of national interests. The proliferation of new technologies, including those related to the digitalization of society, makes it necessary not only to follow modern trends, but also, based on studies of past years, to develop the ability of the state to respond in a timely and adequate manner to the destabilizing effect of various facts. The article presents the genesis of targeted guidelines for economic security and the evolution of approaches to the definition of the term «economic security» in Russia, which made it possible to identify the first preventive attempts to reduce the likelihood of negative consequences and localization of threats to national security, both in Russia and abroad. The author analyzed modern domestic trends and scientific views in foreign countries on economic security issues, as well as a brief comparative description of approaches to determining national security in the Russian Federation and the United States of America. The article contains a wide range of approaches to the definition of the term «security», as well as a retrospective of the scientific worldview and reflection on the essence of security as an economic category. Imperfections were identified in the «traditional» approaches, as well as in the modern European and American paradigms of economic security. The author's definition is proposed in the conclusion of the article.

Perspectives on <i>The Soviet Union and the Horn of Africa during the Cold War</i>

Formulation of the problem. Economic safety is a conception which estimates the modern state of national economy. Therefore, economic safety depends on the level of economic development. The purpose of the research analyze еconomic security, which protects national interests, implements the development of the national economy and supports its adaptation to the economic interests of state bodies. The object of the research is the process of modeling of economic security is a concept that assesses the current state of the national economy. The hypothesis of the research is the dynamics of the socio-economic development of the state is one of the conditions ensuring its economic security. The methods of the research – analysis, synthesis, scientific generalization, systems approach. The statement of basic materials. Along with the protection of the country's national interests, economic security is the readiness of state bodies to ensure the real development of the country's economy in accordance with national interests and the socio-economic stability of society. The dynamism of the country's socio-economic development is a necessary condition for ensuring its economic security. There are a number of tasks that determine economic security, one of them is the assessment of its geopolitical state and the protection of the national interests of the state. All this is analyzed in detail in the article on the example of Azerbaijan. The originality and practical significance of the research. In the Azerbaijani context, various issues determined by economic security, assessment of the geopolitical state and national interests are also analyzed. Conclusions and perspectives of further research. Consequently, economic security depends on the level of economic development. Economic security protects national interests, realizes the development of the national economy and supports its adaptation to the economic interests of state bodies.

This study examines the economic security of business entities by conducting a systematic bibliometric analysis of academic research indexed in the Scopus database. Due to digital transformation, growing technological dependence, market volatility and heightened exposure to economic and information-related risks, economic security at the enterprise level has become an increasingly important research topic. In this context, economic security is understood to encompass not only financial stability, but also broader organisational capabilities such as information protection, risk management, resilience, and innovation-driven adaptation. The study focuses on the body of academic research devoted to the economic security of business entities. This article aims to identify the intellectual structure of this research field and its dominant thematic areas and geographical patterns of scholarly contributions. It also seeks to determine underexplored research directions relevant to contemporary enterprise security challenges. To this end, a bibliometric research design was employed. The analysis is based on a final dataset of 87 publications from 2004 to 2025. Bibliometric techniques were employed via VOSviewer and the Bibliometrix (Biblioshiny) package to analyse co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence and thematic clusters. The results reveal a multidimensional research landscape centred on information security, risk management, financial stability and technological innovation. The findings suggest an increasing focus on resilience-oriented and integrative security frameworks, reflecting a shift away from narrowly defined protective approaches towards more comprehensive organisational models of economic security. The analysis also reveals a geographically diverse research landscape, with notable scholarly contributions emerging from Eastern Europe, East Asia, and developed economies. These patterns reflect region-specific economic, institutional and security challenges that influence research priorities and methodological approaches. At the same time, however, the bibliometric evidence highlights persistent gaps relating to crisis resilience, the governance of information security, and the integration of emerging digital technologies at enterprise level. Based on the results obtained, the study concludes that research on the economic security of business entities is still fragmented and interdisciplinary, and requires stronger integration of strategic and technological perspectives. By providing a structured overview of existing literature, the study clarifies enterprise-level economic security research and suggests directions for future academic enquiry and managerial practice.

This research topic examines the role of the public in shaping national customs policy in economic and legal terms. The research aims to analyse the framework of categories and concepts, to study the state of legal regulation and an economic component, and to identify the public role in shaping national customs policy. The methodology employed in this study encompassed a range of approaches to scientific knowledge, including systems analysis, dialectical methods, formal-logical methods, and structural-functional methods. Results. This paper sets out to analyse normative and theoretical approaches to defining the legal category of "state customs policy", and to render the content features of that category. The paper puts forward the argument that the economic component of domestic customs policy should be considered as a set of measures aimed at ensuring the state's economic security, stimulating foreign economic activity, replenishing the state budget, and developing the national economy through the regulation of customs relations. The fundamental components of the economic component of state customs policy are identified, namely: 1) customs regulation; 2) application of non-tariff regulation; 3) customs payments; 4) customs control; 5) promotion of foreign economic activity; 6) protection of the domestic market; 7) economic security. It is important to acknowledge that the public is defined as an active, legitimate, interested, and organised group of individuals and legal entities participating in public life to protect their interests and contribute to the development of society. The author delineates the general features of the legal category "public" as follows: 1) subjectivity (formed from individuals and/or legal entities, their associations, organisations, or groups); 2) legitimacy (activities meet the current legislation of Ukraine); 3) public position and interest in public issues (manifestation of interest and active stance in specific areas of public life, the achievement of specific interests and goals); 4) representation (can be represented by authorised persons acting on its behalf); 5) legal form of organisation (in particular, in the form of public organisations, trade unions, and self-organisation bodies). The economic component of domestic customs policy is predicated on the creation of favourable conditions for foreign economic activity, the protection of national interests, and the replenishment of the state budget. It has been substantiated that the economic component of state customs policy constitutes an important tool for the country's economic development and security. The following forms of public participation in the formation of state customs policy are systematised: public hearings, the functioning of the public council, public consultations, public expertise, citizens' appeals, co-operation with non-governmental organisations, involvement of the latter in monitoring activities of customs authorities, and engagement of public representatives in the work of commissions vested with the formulation and implementation of customs policy. A review of good practices is conducted, with a particular emphasis on the necessity of reinstating the operation of the institution of advisers under the Office of the Head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine and heads of customs.

Despite vast research has been carried out and a great number of approaches are available to assess the economic security of enterprises, currently a range of security-related issues are yet beyond the research agenda, thus triggering a need for their thorough investigation and interpretation, in particular this refers to a contradictedness concept underpinned by the inverse relationship between its level (state) and a management decision which can be effective subject to certain economic indicators. The purpose of this study is to develop theoretical and methodological approaches to assess the enterprise economic security with due regard to management decisions effectiveness. To attain the research objectives, the following research methods have been employed: generalization – to draw conclusions from a primary sources content analysis, analysis and synthesis – to provide deeper understanding of the key research categories along with specifying the economic security indicators. The study suggests an ambivalent approach to the perception of management decisions. Using the example of a decision made as to the implementation of an investment project, it is demonstrated that, in contrast to the existing approaches (in which it is viewed as an anti-crisis measure and a tool to boost the level of economic security), in fact, the project may be effective from the position of enhancing the key economic indicators, however it will fail from the perspective of increasing the level of economic security. In this context, the indicators of the investment project economic efficiency have been updated with a focus towards enhancing the enterprise economic security. The study presents an algorithm to test the investment feasibility together with evaluating its impact on the level and the state of the enterprise economic security. The authors also provide a classification of effects from management decisions aimed at increasing the level of economic security. In addition to the above, a chain modeling algorithm is proposed to assess the state of economic security taking into account the rate of change in reaching by security indicators (and its individual elements) their liminal values. The use of this algorithm allows to predict the effects of multiple alternatives in management decision-making on the state of the enterprise economic security. An improved brute force methodological approach applied to investing in processes (projects) to ensure the enterprise economic security provides for a more balanced approach when making appropriate management decisions. The proposals made have important practical implications since they expand the management analytics capabilities and allow to consider the effects from management decisions on the enterprise economic security.

The article presents a systematic and interconnected presentation of the socio-economic aspects of the reforming the education and science system of China at the stage of achieving technological leadership and realizing the opportunity to use China’s experience of such reform, as well as the results of the analysis of the consequences of reforming the domestic education and science system according to the “Chinese model” to ensure Russia’s economic security. The relevance of the topic is due to the ongoing technological breakthroughs and changes in the international situation, which have laid the foundation for new approaches in the sphere of political, economic and military relations of the states of the “strategic triangle” Russia-USA- PRC and other countries of the world community. In these conditions, ensuring Russia’s economic security is closely linked to solving a number of political, economic and military issues of interaction with the People’s Republic of China in the direction of “equal trusting partnership and strategic interaction”. At the same time, since the threat of world war in the modern world has not been completely eliminated, the problem of ensuring Russia’s economic security, taking into account the implementation of the policies of the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China in the field of education and science, is pa rticularly acute. Subject/Topic. In the context of the intensifying struggle for leadership between the United States and China, the introduction of anti-Russian sanctions, the task of strengthening the strategic partnership of the Russian Federation with the People’s Republic of China in the field of education and science, expanding scientific, educational and trade and economic ties between Russia and China is becoming especially urgent for Russia. Objectives/Tasks. To assess the impact of the prospects for expanding scientific, educational and trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of introducing anti-Russian sanctions in the field of education and science. Methodology. The paper analyzes the results of reforming the education and science system of China at the stage of achieving technological leadership and the prospects for expanding scientific, educational and trade and economic ties between Russia and China. Results. An approach is proposed to analyze the prospects for expanding scientific, educational and trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions in the field of education and science. Discussion/Аpplication. The proposed approach to assessing the prospects for expanding scientific, educational, trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions in the field of education and science allows us to forecast the consequences of reforming the domestic system of education and science according to the “Chinese model” to ensure Russia’s economic security. Conclusions/Significance. The results of assessing the prospects for scientific, educational, trade and economic ties between Russia and China in the context of anti-Russian sanctions can be used to substantiate recommendations to the leadership of our country on reforming the domestic system of education and science. It is concluded that the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China are important strategic partners for each other.

This research article examines the essence, content, and characteristics of the category "economic security" within the national economy. The article demonstrates that economic security is a multifaceted concept studied from three perspectives: national interests, stability, and economic independence. The author describes the structure of economic security as the result of the interaction of three main economic partners-the state, businesses, and households-and presents a mathematical model of their relationships. Overall, the author concludes that economic security is an integral part of national security. The research findings have practical implications for improving the theoretical and methodological framework for economic security in the Republic of Tajikistan.

The main essential aspects of the country economic security as a foundation for structural change and sustainable development of the national economy, strengthening its competitiveness, improvement of the economic entities efficiency are formulated in this paper. The processes affecting the economic security at the state, regions and individual enterprises levels are identified. Taking into account the available classifications of the economic security components, the role of information and cybersecurity is highlighted. It is determined that almost in all classifications of information security in one form or another is considered as an opportunity for information support and protection of confidential information of the socio-economic system. It is proved that «cybersecurity» category is gradually shifting from micro to macro level, from the problems of information protection on individual devices in local networks to the creation of a single cybersecurity system as a full component of national security at the state level. The assessment of cyberspace as the environment for potential criminal actions in the field of unauthorized access to the confidential information, software failures, automated systems functional breakdowns is carried out. It is identified how such characteristics of economic security as countermeasures resistance to internal and external threats, economic independence, self-reproduction and self-development, national interests, can be supported and protected in cyberspace Proposals for creating an effective system of cybersecurity state regulation and conditions for online information exchange within «public authorities – private sector – civil society», triangle, optimization of staffing cyber protection, development of the system of economic indicators of cyberspace functioning are introduced. Emphasis is placed on the research prospects concerning the stimulation of innovative activity aimed at the creation of effective organizational and technological model of the national cybersecurity system, the implementation of human resources, optimization of domestic legislation.