Karginova V.V.

Purpose. Theoretical works and the current policy for ensuring economic security assume the identification of existing risks and their minimization. At the same time, significant discrepancies between the objective level of risk and its subjective assessment are not taken into account. This study is aimed at developing a methodological approach to determine economic security, taking into account the perception of risk. The article examined the economic security of regions, since a high divergence of socio-economic indicators, external and internal factors do not allow ensuring the realization of regional interests within the framework of the national security policy. Methodology and methods. A comparative analysis of research in the field of economic security has shown that as their methodological basis are usually used theories of sustainable development and (or) a systematic approach. Taking into account the revealed limitations of the existing concepts, this study was based on the synthesis of the theory of regional development, institutional and behavioral theories. The results of the author's sociological research, as well as the works of Russian and foreign scientists and the practical experience of the policies of ensuring economic security were analyzed. Results and scope. Accounting of the specific behavior of individuals (their limited rationality, the risk aversion and the asymmetry of its perception) allowed to develop a new methodological approach to the definition of economic security. The advantage of this approach, in particular, is the possibility of ensuring economic security while saving budgetary funds and balancing national and regional interests, as well as reproducing the required level of security. This approach can become a basis for the formation of regional risk management institutions. Scientific novelty. The paper shows that for sustainable development of regions and the integrity of the territory, not an optimal but an optimally-perceived level of risks is important. Given, that in the context of different social roles, individuals perceive the same level of risk in different ways, the differentiation of approaches to economic security for regions and groups of interests of actors in specific roles is proposed.