Problems of Manufacturing Products for Final Consumption in the Industry of Irkutsk Oblast

The problem of freeing the country’s economy from commodity dependence is discussed. The potential for increasing the depth of processing of extracted raw materials and semi-products manufactured by enterprises of Irkutsk oblast is considered. Irkutsk oblast is one of the largest industrial constituent entities of the Russian Federation with a highly specific structure of industries. It combines an advanced extractive industry (production of oil, gold, iron ore, coal, salt and gypsum as well as logging) with multisectoral mechanical engineering (aircraft industry, manufacture of various machinery and equipment, electrical products, switching products and instruments). It also includes the advanced electric-power (absolutely dominated by the hydroelectric power component), aluminum and nuclear industries, and the chemical and forestry complex. The proportion of their products in the country’s economy is quite large. Most of these products are exported in the form of semi-products for a further processing to other regions of the country or to other countries. The range of interests of various entities is identified, which can influence the solution to the problem under consideration. Such entities can include society (the country’s population), the territory represented by its population, a corporation, a company, an industrial enterprise, and separate entrepreneurs. It is shown that it is impossible and inappropriate to fully process all semi-products and raw materials produced by the regional industry to obtain products for final consumption, due to economic, transportation and other reasons. However, a processing of them within economically justified limits is highly desirable in order for Irkutsk oblast to gain additional benefits in the form of tax revenues to the budget, job creation and an increase in charitable donations. A rationally is given to the need to do research in order to determine the scope of manufacture of products for final consumption in Irkutsk oblast.