SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS A COMPONENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS

Abstract

Social infrastructure is one of the most significant internal factors of the quality and standard of living of the rural population. The state of social infrastructure determines the residential attractiveness of rural areas. We believe that social infrastructure is a set of interconnected, harmoniously functioning industries, enterprises, organizations and institutions, types of activity, as well as economic relations and human potential, combined in a single integrated system that functions to meet the needs of all segments of the population in the sphere of spirituality, material support and reproduction of human capital. It is worth noting that the branches of social infrastructure have specific features: first, they are characterized by significant labor intensity compared to the production of material goods; secondly, the share of material costs in the final production of services is significantly lower than in the case of the production of material goods; thirdly, a significant percentage of the assets of economic entities in the social sphere is money. Currently, the most urgent problems are the preservation of the potential of health care, education and culture of the rural population. The turnover of medical staff, teachers, and cultural workers is increasing in the village. The level of improvement of villages remains low. The multiplicity of social infrastructure development directions in conditions of uncertainty and unpredictability of socio-economic development parameters of rural areas allows us to conclude about the need to introduce a strategic level of management to solve the task of determining priority directions for the development of social infrastructure objects. The conceptual model of strategic development of social infrastructure will provide a mechanism for realizing long-term investment goals related to improving the quality of life of the population, as well as socio-economic development of rural areas.