Socioeconomic Factors and Public Perceptions of the Development of Key Settlements: The Experience of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

Within the framework of the spatial development program of the Russian Federation, decisions are being made on the formation of a system of key settlement. Their selection is carried out in accordance with the regulations. When forming programs for the socio-economic development of such settlements, the relevant mechanism is to take into account the subjective assessment of the population of the key settlement. The purpose of this article is to analyze a survey of residents of the urban settlement of Aldan in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and compare its results with key tasks of spatial development. This survey was conducted as part of a research project: “Identification of key features of key settlement of urban and rural settlements in the context of spatial development trends in the Sakha (Republic Yakutia), in September 2024. The questionnaire was developed so that respondents would assess the settlement in accordance with the priority areas of spatial development of the territories of the Russian Federation. The questions were collected in the appropriate thematic blocks. The residents gave an assessment of the directions of socio-economic development of the city. Aldan in accordance with the selected thematic blocks; the main factors ensuring a high quality of life are identified, according to which, in the opinion of the population, it is necessary to build program documents for the development of the settlement. The majority of respondents rated the current state of the economy as “satisfactory”, “rather positive”. The respondents acknowledge that the social activity of the residents is necessary for the further development of the settlement, but assess it as average and satisfactory. They also identified areas that, in the opinion of the population, really ensure the quality of life of people, really operate and work in the locality, and in accordance with which it is necessary to coordinate territorial development programs. Such surveys are an effective mechanism for the adoption of policy documents by government authorities when making decisions on the development of settlements, including those designated as reference ones. They make it possible to identify the problems of the existing situation and coordinate further development.

We select depopulated municipality of SHIMANE prefecture in which population especially decrease as a subject of investigation and perceive various condition of population dynamics by making agricultural villages which is minimum regional society of a unit for analysis.In this study, we realize the structure of distribution of the village types by population dynamics that were got. Then we pay attention to the term of convenience, central convenient function level, that have relevant especially to the types, and we replace it with relation between each village and the key sattlement. By that we realize the distribution of the village types by population dynamics.Conclusions are as follows:1. We investigate distribution of village types by population dynamics from the point of view which is distance or difference of height between villages and key settlement. Consequently it become clear that distribution of the types is can be grasped the structure of core which have the center of key settlement in a unit of old villages, and accumulation of convenient function in key settlement make stably all area of old village.2. We couldn't get direct correspondence between population and condition of agriculture. However we check up them again using land location of distance and deference of height between each village and the key settlement. As a result the qualification that prescribe population types is different in each condition of agriculture. And ordinary prerequisites of stable type depend on location of relation with key settlement but the stable type of middle or small scale can exist on the places where are far from key settlement. Then prerequisite is preparedness of basic condition of agriculture.Dispersing of central convenient functions in micro scale by that in area of old village where we maintain the key settlements is necessary for stabilizing population.

Key Settlement Policy divides rural settlements into two types?those in which expansion is allowed and those in which it is not. Although suitability for residential expansion is not completely synonymous with suitability for infrastructure investment (nor vice versa) the designation of Key Settlement or non-Key Settlement status does not have a significant impact on infrastructure and service provision. In the light of central and local public expenditure economies and of the 1985 Transport Act, therefore, key Settlement Policy takes on a renewed political importance. In 1982 the Warwickshire policy was changed, involving some changes in designation, and also a beginning of decentralization of designation decisions away from the county to the constituent districts. The change was justified by the argument that the policy had previously been ineffective. However, analysis of the 17 key settlements and 17 control non-key settlements from 1966 to 1981, with respect to population change, refusal rates, Planning Inspectors' decision letters, and appeal decisions, shows that the policy was effective. It is argued that the reason for the policy change in 1982 stems from central government and County Council political objectives, and that decentralization of designation powers to districts constitutes a loss of accountability for rural policy in Warwickshire. PRESENT GOVERNMENT POLICIES toward rural areas emphasize efficiency, rationalization, and cost-cutting of rural services. Many village schools are closing as school rolls fall nationally, and as local authorities search for economies. The national bill for subsidizing the bus companies is threatening to reach ?1 billion annually, and legislation now before Parliament seeks radically to reduce this vast sum by means of privatization, a measure which will cut unprofitable bus routes considerably, mainly in rural areas. Also, as the Post Office looks for greater efficiency, an acceleration of closures of rural post offices may occur. It is in this context that we investigate Warwickshire County Council's rural settlement policy. Rural settlement policies, because of the trend towards cutbacks in services, are increasingly coming to the forefront of politics in rural areas. Such policies are, and will increasingly become, the main instrument for deciding which settlements should suffer from loss of rural services, since they indicate settlement hierarchies, and therefore serve as a means of discriminating between those settlements which should be favoured ('key settlements') and those which should suffer from cutbacks. Although many of the threatened services are being privatized and thus are moving ostensibly out of the local political arena, any decision on specific cutbacks in specific areas will necessarily implicate local government. Local politicians will be unable to avoid the political storms and subsequent unpopularity thus created. The government has repeatedly made clear that any loss of services resulting from privatization should occur only after consultation with the relevant local authority. Other services, such as education and social services, obviously implicate local politicians more directly, in their continuing search for economies. Moreover, changes in government thinking on the financing of local government continually emphasize the need to make local politicians more accountable for the costs of local services to the local voters. The present Conservative Government has, since 1979, carried an election pledge to implement this change?by reforming the rating system. Furthermore, suggestions currently being considered emphasize a

The article reviews small and medium-sized businesses in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), and their role and significance in the economy of the republic. The purpose of the study was to determine the available financial opportunities for the development and support of small and medium-sized businesses in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The system of available sources of financial support in the region was considered, including government programs to support small and medium-sized businesses, subsidies, grants aimed at supporting their activities, preferential bank loan programs and microloans for small and medium-sized businesses. An analysis of available financial sources showed their limitations and inaccessibility for most small and medium-sized enterprises that do not have sufficient collateral, bank guarantees and sureties. Most of the representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises in the republic do not have timely accessible information about the proposed sources of financial support from government authorities. At the same time, not all enterprises cope with filling out the required documentation to receive financial support. The work provides a comparative analysis of preferential interest rates and loan terms for small and medium-sized businesses that have official programs in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). For this purpose, the official partner banks of the Microcredit Company of the Entrepreneurship Development Fund of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) were selected: VTB Bank PJSC (Public Joint Stock Company), AKB (Joint Stock Commercial Bank) “Almazergienbank” Joint Stock Company (JSC) and Joint Stock Company (JSC) “Asian-Pacific Bank”. As a result of the analysis, the work identified the most effective sources of financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The work provides examples of successful projects that have received financial support in the republic. Based on the study, recommendations were proposed for improving the system of financial support for small and medium-sized businesses in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

The study is concerned with the examination of rural spatial structure from a viewpoint of the relationships among settlements, and its goal is to suggest what should be taken into account in the process of planning rural living environments. This paper deals mainly with key settlements which link up circumferential settlements according to their functions. Three study areas were chosen for investigation, each of which had different degrees of proximity to nearby towns. Using a questionnaire, information was collected concerning the spatial distribution of residents' activities and their attitudes toward key settlements. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) Residents' activities tend to be centred around key settlements. Three types of key settlements were identified based on the centrality of residents' activities. 2) The centrality of a settlement can be measured from a number of key indices measuring such aspects as concentration of shops and public facilities, and the degree of remoteness of an area. But, residents tend to judge the centrality of a settlement by the location of public facilities such as village offices. The idea of a key settlement should be introduced and developed as a planning concept bearing in mind areal attributes (e. g. proximity to town, spatial distribution of residents' activities, etc. ) so that the networks of social facilities can be improved.

The article presents the results of expedition research in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Magadan region. The current state of the Kolyma Federal highway is analyzed both in terms of technical characteristics (type of pavement, speed of movement, level of vehicle vibrations when driving) and in terms of traffic flows (their volume and structure). It is noted that the highway plays an important role in servicing the transport needs of the population and business of these regions, which affects the state and development of settlements that gravitate to the highway. Heterogeneity in the load on the Yakut and Magadan sections of the route is indicated and the factors of its occurrence are explained. There is negative population dynamics of the main types of settlements located in the zone of influence of the route, determined the reasons of transformation of the existing system of settlement and prospects of development of the study area, identifies the reasons for the differences in transformation processes in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and the Magadan region. The main factors of differentiation of the Yakut and Magadan segments of the Kolyma highway are identified, among which natural, economic and socio-cultural factors are noted. Two potential scenarios for further development of these regions are considered: the transition of the existing settlement system to shift development or its preservation. The main conclusions are supported by statistical information and materials of expedition research.

The regional budget is a tool through which regional government institutions obtain resources to support their activities and fulfill the region’s development tasks. These resources include revenues from the use of regional property, tax receipts from the population and businesses, funding from the federal budget, and others. Through the budget, regional authorities have the opportunity to plan and implement investment projects, support small and medium-sized businesses, finance education, healthcare, culture, and other areas of activity. Consolidation of resources through the regional budget allows for the reduction of inequality between different territories, the improvement of the standard of living for the population, and the promotion of sustainable regional development. An important aspect of the regional budget is also the ability to plan and adapt to changing economic conditions, prevent financial crises, and ensure the financial stability of the region. This article explores the formation of the budget and resource allocation in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). The importance of studying this topic is due to the fact that the system of interbudgetary relations plays a significant role in ensuring the socio-economic development of the region. The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is a major resource-rich region, and interbudgetary relations have particular relevance as a significant portion of the region’s revenue is associated with the extraction and export of natural resources. The aim of the study is to analyze the distribution of income and expenditure in the region. The methodological basis of the research consisted of analyzing official statistical information on the budget’s income and expenditure in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), as well as using methods of economic analysis and planning. The study examines and analyzes the revenue and expenditure of the consolidated budget of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), analyzes the relationship between gratuitous receipts and own funds in the republic, and also examines interbudgetary transfers to the budget of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).

The idea of ​ forming a key settlement (KS) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is actively promoted at various levels of public administration, in legislative and executive authorities; various infrastructure projects and development programs are being developed. The Government of the Russian Federation has defined key criteria for identifying settlements where infrastructure will be rapidly developed to ensure the implementation of guarantees in the field of education, accessibility of medical care, cultural services and the implementation of other needs of the population of the territory of one or several municipalities. The researchers asked themselves whether Aldan has the potential to develop as a KS? Objective: To reveal the depth and scale of the task of improving the quality of the living environment of the population, taking into account the existing infrastructure potential of the urban settlement of Aldan. Methods: data analysis methods such as data classification, forecasting. The method of assessing internal and external factors is SWOT analysis. Sociological survey of the population. Findings: According to the authors of the article, it is necessary to soberly assess the existing potential of the urban settlement selected as a support settlement. Conclusions: When developing the KS, it is necessary to focus on such an internal factor as one of the highest levels of emergency housing in the republic. Of the external factors, the greatest threat is the factor of environmental violations by mining companies. We will add that the adjustment of the implementation of the infrastructure potential must necessarily take into account the specifics of the Aldan region, namely the presence of shift camps.

Issues of the pre-school education accessibility and improvement of the provided services quality in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are considered in this article. Ways of increasing the quantity of children in the pre-school educational establishments are revealed. One of the efficient ways of the problem solution is partnership between municipal pre-school educational organizations and small and medium size businesses.

The search for new approaches to spatial development of territories is connected with the need for economic development while achieving a high quality of life for the population. The Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation (hereinafter SDS-2030) defines a network of key settlements as the key instruments for its implementation, which ensures the sustainability of the settlement system, increased economic connectivity, and improved quality of life throughout the country. At the same time, the Spatial Development Strategy defines the most important principles of territorial development: a differentiated approach to the development of settlements (sustainable development of strong regions and assistance to regions in need of additional support); an integrated approach to infrastructure development; and transition to an effective settlement model based on a system of settlements. It seems that building a system of key settlements as a settlement framework for a region is advisable to achieve better living conditions for the population. And this, in turn, is associated with the ongoing policy of integrated territorial development, which is becoming increasingly systemic. Particular emphasis is placed on the expediency of the search for new effective mechanisms and instruments for the implementation of the National Project “Infrastructure for Life.” The objects of the study were cities of different sizes (largest, large, big, medium, and small), included in the composition of the key settlements. The purpose of the study is to determine what the system of key settlements in the region is and to identify the possibilities for the development of cities of different sizes in new conditions. The following methods were used: review of scientific sources and statistical information; analysis of the cities of the region included in the unified list of basic settlements of the Russian Federation.

Russian regions are currently developing measures to adapt to climate change. This study aims to provide a scientific foundation for practical approaches to updating the regional adaptation plan of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). It does so by analyzing the key challenges associated with planning processes within the context of the division of authority among different levels of public administration in Russia and examining the region’s economic foundations for adaptation policy. These issues were addressed using general scientific methods, including analysis, synthesis, and scientific generalization, applied to contemporary regulatory frameworks and scientific literature. For the first time, this paper explores the specifics of regulating adaptation activities at the level of an individual Russian region, including legislative conflicts and methodological approaches, which underscores the novelty of this research. Using the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) as a case study, we identify several organizational challenges: limited regional inventories that cover only climate-vulnerable assets; insufficient consideration of regional interests in federal-level adaptation planning; desynchronization between different government levels; absence of standardized approaches to municipal-level adaptation planning; and a lack of engagement among economic entities in implementing adaptation measures. Within this study, regional adaptation is viewed both as a means to mitigate damage—through infrastructural measures such as flood control structures and institutional mechanisms like insurance—and as an opportunity for development via investments in human capital. Among promising financing instruments, catastrophe bonds are examined alongside government incentives designed to promote the achievement of specific adaptation targets. A combination of actionable measures is proposed for inclusion in the updated adaptation plan for the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Priority is given to initiatives that yield rapid results at minimal cost—such as establishing monitoring and response systems, involving municipalities and industries through subsidies in climate action efforts, and implementing scientific and educational policies. The sequential implementation of these practical measures will be integrated into the revised adaptation plan and reflected within the updated Strategy for Socioeconomic Development of Sakha (Yakutia), highlighting the practical significance of this study. Future research prospects include sectoral analyses to assess climate risk levels and develop scientifically grounded forecasts.

В статье проанализированы перспективы развития якутского языка с учетом результатов качественных и количественных социологических исследований в Республике Саха (Якутия), проведенных в 2022 и 2023 годах. Предпринято сравнение с идентичными исследованиями, осуществленными в республиках Поволжья и Приуралья. Отмечаются схожие проблемные зоны в части стандартов образования, где превалирует русский язык, а также влияния процесса цифровизации, ведущей к усилению русского языка в билингвальной среде. Представлены мнения эксперов, касающиеся использования эффективных инструментов по сохранению и развитию языков, в частности, дана оценка работе СМИ и медиа на якутском языке в цифровой среде. Сравнивая результаты количественных (мониторинговые опросы) и качественных (экспертное интервью и фокус-группы) исследований, проведенных в Республике Саха (Якутия), также выявлено влияние цифровизации на языковые процессы. Экспертное сообщество обозначает беспокойство языковой компетенцией подрастающего поколения, что подтверждается уровнем владения родным якутским языком детьми-саха. По результатам опроса, 20% родителей оценивают уровень знания якутского языка своими детьми на «удовлетворительно». При этом 10% детей-саха вообще «не знают» родного языка или владеют им «неудовлетворительно». Отмечается, что контент на национальных языках на данный момент не конкурентоспособен с преобладающими русским и английским языками в Интернете, объемы его недостаточны для влияния на языковой процесс. Авторы считают, что при достаточной государственной поддержке СМИ на национальных языках, использования этноблогеров возможно развивать национальные языки в цифровой среде. Отмечается, что стандарты общего образования снижают мотивацию к изучению родного языка. Авторы предлагают обеспечить эту мотивацию посредством сдачи экзаменов (ОГЭ и ЕГЭ) на родных языках. Кроме того, предлагается обеспечить выпуск учебников нового поколения для изучения якутского языка с учетом современных методологических требований. Экспертами отмечается отсутствие паритета между языками – русским и якутским – хотя законодательная база оценивается положительно. Вместе с тем, как показывают фокус-группы, ситуация с паритетностью развития двух государственных языков в РС (Я) в различных экономических зонах Якутии отличается специфичностью. Количественные и качественные социологические исследования выявили, что число саха-билингвов в якутском социуме достаточно велико (примерно 40-45% и, возможно, даже гораздо больше). Можно предположить, что эта группа будет в дальнейшем достаточно перспективной в плане установления паритетного функционирования языков. The article analyses the prospects of Yakut language development taking into account the results of qualitative and quantitative sociological research conducted in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2022 and 2023. A comparison with identical studies carried out in the Volga and Urals republics is made The analysis highlights common problematic areas concerning educational standards, where the Russian language predominates, as well as the impact of digitalization processes that contribute to the strengthening of the Russian language within bilingual environments Expert opinions regarding effective tools for the preservation and development of languages are presented, particularly evaluating the role of media and journalism in the Yakut language within the digital landscape. Comparing the results of quantitative (monitoring surveys) and qualitative research (expert interviews and focus groups) conducted in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the impact of digitalisation on language processes is also revealed. The expert community is concerned about the linguistic competence of the younger generation, as evidenced by the level of proficiency of Sakha children in their native Yakut language. According to survey results, 20% of parents rate their children’s knowledge of the Yakut language as ‘satisfactory’, while 10% of Sakha children ‘do not know’ their native language at all or have an ‘unsatisfactory’ command of it. It is noted that content in national languages is currently not competitive with the predominant Russian and English languages on the Internet, with insufficient volume to influence language processes. The authors believe that with sufficient state support for media in national languages and the engagement of ethno-bloggers, it is possible to promote national languages in the digital environment. It is noted that the standards of general education reduce the motivation to learn the native language. The authors propose to ensure this motivation through examinations (United State Exams – EGE and OGE) in native languages. In addition, it is suggested that a new generation of textbooks be produced for the study of the Yakut language, taking into account modern methodological requirements. Experts note the lack of parity between Russian and Yakut languages, although the legislative framework is positively assessed. However, focus groups reveal that the situation regarding the parity of development between the two state languages in the RS (Y) varies across different economic zones of Yakutia. Quantitative and qualitative sociological research has shown that the number of Sakha bilinguals within Yakut society is quite substantial (approximately 40-45%, and possibly even more). It can be hypothesized that this group will be promising for establishing a parity in language functioning in the future.

The article examines the trends in the development of adventure tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), where nature-oriented forms of tourism are the most promising. The object of the study is adventure tourism, the subject is the peculiarities of its development in the regions of new development on the example of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The concept and characteristics of adventure tourism are briefly analysed. It is determined that adventure tourism is one of the types of nature–oriented tourism, including visits to unique natural sites (mainly in areas untouched by economic activity) through active forms of movement combined with moderate physical exertion, overcoming difficulties and obtaining unforgettable experiences, impressions and new knowledge about the world around. The specifics of the organization and trends in the development of tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) are analysed. The analysis of the natural and recreational potential showed high attractive properties of the studied territory and the possibility of developing various types of active tourism. Despite the rich natural resource potential, the development of adventure tourism in the region is hampered by a number of negative factors. The main problems of the development of adventure tourism are considered and measures to intensify the development of adventure tourism in the region are proposed.

A Canadian social scientist with extensive field experience in the countries of the former Soviet Union explores linkages between environmental degradation and the deterioration of public health in Russia's largest political-administrative region—the Sakha Republic. The paper presents partial results of a broader research program on social and economic change in the republic and relies upon interviews with officials in government and industry as well as detailed republic-level statistics obtained during field work in the republic in 1997 and 1998. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: I10, I31, Q20, Q30. 1 table, 49 references.

The article analyzes the current state of the telecommunications infrastructure of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Brief description of the socio-economic situation of the republic is given, with the regional specific features of the northern territory of the Russian Federation being given. Main indicators of the influence of broadband access to the Internet on the development of the regional economy are presented. It is noted that the most popular satellite resource on the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is the Ku-band of the Am5 Express spacecraft. The development of communication and information technologies in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) will be oriented towards the transition to a new technological mode and higher rates of industrial development, which implies radical modernization of the information system and the innovative solutions in the field of information. The information infrastructure will be developed, which will ensure the competitiveness of basic and new industries, comfortable living conditions, information freedom of the population, sustainable development of the Arctic territories with the introduction of satellite communications, the modernization of postal communications and the development of electronic commerce and banking services. It is believed that the main purpose of the development of the industry of information and telecommunication technologies in the Republic of Sakha is to improve the living standards of the citizens and to boost the competitiveness of the economy on the basis of state-of-the-art information and telecommunication technologies. The basic indicators of the development of up-to-date information and telecommunication technologies up to 2030 are given. The issues of training specialists in the field of information communications within the concept of the Triple Helix model that describes the interaction between the university, business and government in the educational process are discussed. The conclusion is made that the successful development of the information and telecommunication technologies sector in the Republic of Sakha is impossible without the appropriate system of specialists' training. For the transition to the sixth technological mode, the significant modernization of the programs at all levels of education in the field of infocommunications will be required. In this regard, the introduction and implementation of the model for specialists' training within the framework of public-private partnerships and the concept of the Triple Helix theory will allow for a faster and more flexible adaptation of the system of training competitive specialists to labor market changes for enterprises and organizations of the telecommunications sector of the region's economy.