A Methodology for Assessing the Harmonisation Level of Industrial and Trade Policies

The paper examines the existing approaches to developing a methodology for determining the level of policy harmonisation. The author suggests a methodology based on the rating method for assessing the level of harmonisation of the components of the industrial and trade policy of St. Petersburg at the institutional level. A scale for quantitatively and qualitatively assessing the harmonisation of industrial and trade policies at the institutional level has been developed. An assessment of the harmonisation of institutional support for industrial and trade policies of St. Petersburg at the federal and regional levels was made. The author developed criteria for harmonising industrial and trade policies which are based on the mutual orientation of the goals and objectives of industry and trade development, the comprehensiveness and systematic use of support measures and the effectiveness of the pursued policies. The principles of uniformity, goal setting, consistency, rationality and mutual socio-economic conditionality can be used to harmonise the industrial and trade policies of the constituencies of the Russian Federation. To assess the level of harmonisation of industrial and trade policies, the indicator of the ‘the share of locally produced goods in the region’s trade turnover’ has been proposed and a scale of qualitative characteristics of the level of harmonisation has been developed. The author suggests a list of indicators for assessing the socio-economic effect of the harmonisation of St. Peterburg’s industrial and trade policies based on the light industry sector.