DOI: 10.38050/2078-3809-2026-18-1-125-137

Abstract

This article provides a review of the first two topics discussed at the "Socio-Cultural Economy" research seminars held during the autumn semester of 2024 at the Department of Applied Institutional Economics, Faculty of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University. The primary focus is on the cultural codes of Russia and China and their impact on trade relations, as well as on ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the context of internal corporate governance. The first part systemizes key cultural concepts of conducting business in China, such as long-term orientation, collectivism, Guanxi (beneficial connections), and Mianzi (face/reputation), and demonstrates the importance of considering them to reduce transaction costs in cross-border cooperation. The second part outlines the main findings of a study investigating the relationship between employee awareness of CSR at the line-manager level, ethical leadership (EL) at the executive level, the perception of CSR and EL, and employee engagement in CSR initiatives. In conclusion, the article emphasizes that integrating a socio-cultural approach into economic analysis not only enables a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of international business and organizational management but also facilitates the development of specific tools to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation and governance.

Keywords: socio-cultural economics, values, transaction costs, corporate culture, ethical leadership, corporate social responsibility, China, Guanxi, Mianzi.

JEL: D230, F550, O430, Z100, Z130.

For citation: Ivanova, N.G., Komarov, A.P. (2026) Cultural Economics in Action: Cases of Russian-Chinese Relations and Ethical Leadership. Scientific Research of Faculty of Economics. Electronic Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 125-137. DOI: 10.38050/2078-3809-2026-18-1-125-137.

Download