The vector of the development of territories under the conditions of the new reality (using single-industry towns in the Chelyabinsk Region as an example)

Abstract

Subject. The article is focused on the processes which accompany the transformation of the model of a monofunctional municipality (whose main feature is industry monospecialisation) into a multifunctional municipality both in relation to its production specialisation and in relation to its non-production and social spheres. According to the authors, this concept determines the change of the paradigm of a single-industry town's development from the model of “town for a factory” (with the limited functionality characteristic of single-industry towns) to the model of “town for the people” (with an expanded set of functions, most particularly social functions). The purpose of the study is to identify new opportunities and prospects for the development of single-industry towns using the multifunctional model for the functioning of regional single-industry municipalities.Methodology. To identify the main problems to focus on, the authors analysed scientific resources dedicated to the topic. As a result, emphasis was placed on the analysis of the peculiarities and risks related to the functioning of single-industry towns due to their limited functions (in the production and social spheres and in the local labour market). For this, single-industry towns were classified into several groups: by population (small towns, towns, cities, large cities); by socio-economic situation (in crisis, at risk, stable); by the type of the backbone enterprise; and by the quality of the urban environment. The goal of the classification was to determine the socio-economic situation in single-industry towns in the Chelyabinsk Region and to perform a comparative analysis. Single-industry towns were positioned within the following coordinates: “the status of towns by population – their socio-economic status”; “the status of towns by population – the quality of the urban environment”. Conclusions. Based on the analysis of the socio-economic situation in single-industry towns in the Chelyabinsk Region, the authors concluded that single-industry towns in the region have different levels of socio-economic development. This is due to their different economic potential, socio-economic situation (stable, at risk, in crisis), the status of the towns in terms of population, and other factors. We believe that the new approach (using the concept of functionality) will allow us, in terms of the methodology, to update and redefine the functions of single-industry towns and to develop a vision for the future town; and in terms of management, to use the development opportunities of single-industry towns by achieving their multifunctionality.