Ideas of well-being economy in the theories of local self-government

Abstract

Mostly center–periphery model of territorial development, long-standing domination of transfers in the structure of municipal budget revenues have formed the protracted, chronic nature of the socioeconomic problems. This necessitates refining goals, principles and content of municipal government, especially in the economic sphere. The paper aims to revise the propositions of the theories of local self-government against the backdrop of the emerging concept of well-being economy, which together constitute the methodological basis of the research. The study applies a suite of general scientific methods, including retrospective analysis and systematisation. Based on the review of pre-revolutionary works of Russian scientists and essayists for 1870–1917 devoted to zemstvo and town and city self-government, the paper deduces an image of well-being of a territory under local government. In particular, its well-being presupposes providing local internal and external amenities, care for food security, health, education, safety from various threats (fires, diseases, crime); organising the economic life of a territory through the municipalisation of socially important industries and services, generation of employment, as well as stimulation of economic activity through cooperation and issuing loans. Having compared the narratives of the well-being economy concept and the propositions of the theories of local self-government, the paper demonstrates that this concept can be implemented by means of local self-government, since their theoretical bases correspond to each other. The study concludes that there is a need to realise the potential of the local government system laid down by Alexander II, emperor of Russia. This requires making the interaction between residents and local government closer, disseminating knowledge about municipal government, and providing greater financial opportunities to local authorities so that they could concentrate on addressing local problems and expressing residents’ interests.