ПРОБЛЕМЫ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ АРКТИЧЕСКИХ РЕГИОНОВ КАНАДЫ

Abstract

The article examines the key issues and risks of the governing and socio-economic development of the Canadian Arctic regions. The relevance of this subject is determined by scientific and practical interest in adapting in Russia the most effective approaches and practices for realizing the economic potential of circumpolar regions in foreign countries. With regard to areas of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (characterized by low population density of vast areas, the absence of large urban settlements with scientific and cultural centers, undeveloped ground transport infrastructure, extreme climatic and geological conditions, the absence of large industrial and energy facilities) special interest represents the relevant Canadian experience. The article shows that in the 2000s, Canada did not come close to turning industry into a leading factor in the economy of the Arctic territories. At the same time, a series of federal programs for the modernization of social and transport infrastructure also did not become a significant incentive for the development of the northern regions. As federal statistics shows, the largest share of their GRP is still formed in the public sector, and the degree of diversification of the regional economy remains extremely low. The modern economy of the circumpolar Canada is based on the dominance of the state in investments and stimulating consumer demand. The consequence of this is an increase in wages, provoking an increase in the cost of all goods and the cost of living in general. Small businesses are unable to compete with the public sector for labor, which constrains private entrepreneurship. For Canada, the Arctic has not yet become the driver of national economic growth, and the lack of infrastructure is a serious obstacle to large-scale investment.