Migration Attractiveness of Cities in the Post-Soviet Space: A Case Study of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

Abstract

The authors analyze the evolution of the system of urban settlement pattern in the post-Soviet space, comparing the consecution of urbanization processes and the change of migration balances in cities of different size, status and location in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Despite the differences in size and density of cities, their spatial and hierarchical structure, as well as in management decisions, many trends of changing the network of cities in these countries were similar. The causes of different migration attractiveness of cities of different size, including their socioeconomic state and the degree of infrastructure development are considered. For countries under review, strong contrasts of urban settlement pattern with a large role of big centers and a high percentage of small towns are typical. In all three countries there are significant differences between the quality of life in large urban centers and small towns. The authors analyze the situation before the war in Ukraine in 2014. Migration, directed in the period from 1990 to 2013, mainly from rural areas, small and medium-sized cities to the largest centers, confirm the hypothesis about the continuation in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus unfinished in the Soviet time urbanization. It is possible to ascertain two main spatial directions of migration in the post-Soviet period: from periphery to the capitals, their suburbs and in major cities, and for Russia and Ukraine (until 2014) – from the East to the Central and Southern areas.