Municipal Development Research Articles

Loss of identity in nineteenth‐century Norway: Oslo's House of Correction

AbstractIn Norway, there was considerable overlap between the poor house, the workhouse, and correctional facilities. An assemblage of human skeletal remains from Oslo's House of Correction cemetery, largely comprised of individuals disturbed during municipal development in 1989, consists of c. 314 individuals who died as inmates or residents; many were disabled or elderly. Although names were recorded at death, the cemetery lacked grave markers or a map, with no expectation families might one day reclaim relatives. All remains have been aged and sexed anthropologically, with samples collected for biomolecular investigations. Despite extensive archival documentation, including names recorded in the House of Correction church book, their identities are shrouded by time. Observations of age, injury, and disease can suggest why inmates ended up in the House of Correction cemetery. But there, individual stories end and identities are lost.

МЕХАНИЗМЫ РЕШЕНИЯ ДЕМОГРАФИЧЕСКИХ ПРОБЛЕМ УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ

An urgent problem of social and economic development of the regions of the Russian Federation is a steady process of depopulation, which is especially acute in rural areas. Thus, the results of a study of the interdependence of the demographic situation, social and economic situation, quality of life and the state of the environment indicate stable negative trends in the regions of Volga Federal District. The assessment of integral indicators for economic, social, environmental and demographic blocks, each of which is represented by official state statistics, made it possible to assess the degree of their differentiation between the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and the causal relationships between them. To classify the regions of Volga Federal District, a hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out using the full connection method, which made it possible to combine them into 3 relatively homogeneous clusters and obtain characteristics for the main blocks - elements of sustainable development. The cluster with a high level of development included 4 regions - the Republic of Tatarstan, Perm Territory, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara regions. The cluster with an average level is represented by 4 subjects of the Russian Federation - the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Mari El, the Chuvash Republic and the Orenburg region. The regions of 3 clusters have a low level of development, namely the Republic of Mordovia, the Udmurt Republic, the Kirov, Penza, Saratov and Ulyanovsk regions. According to the results of a comparative analysis, both in terms of average indicators of clusters and in individual regions, it is stated that the demographic situation in almost all subjects of Volga Federal District on average for 2019-2021 was unfavorable, the actual indicators significantly exceed the maximum critical values of demographic security. The study of the demographics of the municipalities of the Republic of Mordovia, one of the most crisis regions of Volga Federal District, testifies to an even deeper differentiation of the demographic state, requiring government decisions. This, in turn, is associated with the formation and implementation of an ecistic policy in the regions with the general goal of saving people, especially in peripheral rural areas with a demographic crisis and a low level of economic and social development. It is argued that a regular spatial analysis of the demographic situation is necessary when predicting the social and economic development of regions and municipalities in the long and medium term, as well as when assessing the activities of state regional and municipal authorities.

Small and Medium Entrepreneurship as a Factor of Socio-Economic Municipality Development in Sevastopol

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the influence of small and medium-sized business in the Sevastopol on the development of the economy of municipality and the Russian Federation as a whole. The positive and negative aspects of small and medium-sized enterprises are studied, which is necessary to assess the prospects for the development of the economy. Methods. The study used a wide range of general scientific methods, such as analysis and synthesis, abstract-logical, system analysis. The paper analyzes the official statistics of the Federal State Statistics Service and Krymstat regarding the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Sevastopol. Results. The study can note the dynamic development of small and medium-sized businesses relative to the period under review from 2017 to 2021. Medium enterprises have a turnover comparison base much lower than that of small enterprises, which shows higher growth. The results of the study show that in the Southern Federal District the growth in the turnover of small enterprises turned out to be slower compared to the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The paper examines the positive and negative aspects of various forms of entrepreneurial activity and defines the role of municipalities as a solution to this contradiction. Thus, it has been established that for the successful development of small and medium-sized businesses, it is necessary to develop market economic mechanisms at the level of small enterprises, and as a favorable prospect develops, an increase in state support is required. Conclusions. The results of the study can be used in planning the development of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as in regional development and substantiation of the role of regional authorities in the socio-economic development of the municipality.

Пространственное развитие моногородов региона в условиях современной экономической неопределенности

The article considers the main problems of spatial development of single-industry towns of the Russian Federation. The determining influence of modern economic uncertainty conditions on the interrelated processes of economic activity of single-industry enterprises and socio-economic development of single-industry municipalities has been established. The necessity to improve the management process in the sphere of ensuring the development of single-industry towns at the regional level has been proved. The creation of the Regional Monocities Development Fund is proposed. On the case of Perm Krai the key tasks and activities of regional funds for the development of single-industry towns are defined. The main provisions and concepts laid down in the basis of the activities of the formed Fund for the management of development of monocities in the Perm region have been defined. Organizational model for improving the management system of development of single-industry towns in the region has been developed, which allowed to graphically present the management system of the region, defining a new stage of economic monocities of Perm Krai in conditions of modern economic uncertainty. The distinction of the proposed model is the inclusion of procedures for decomposition of the factors of modern economic uncertainty and deformation of economic activities of single-industry towns, as well as feedback, which allows to promptly correct managerial actions to overcome the newly emerging problems. Three scenarios of development of Alexandrovsky, Ochersky and Chusovsky monotowns of Perm Krai using sectoral coefficients-deflators of spatial development of the Russian Federation for the period 2021-2025 and analytical comprehension of trends and indicators with the decomposition of factors of modern economic uncertainty are considered. The results obtained in the course of this work may be in demand and are recommended for use in the regional and municipal government of the Perm region, in the process of improving the management of development of single-industry towns.

Managing the Sustainable Development of Municipalities in the Context of the Implementation of the SDGs

Managing the Sustainable Development of Municipalities in the Context of the Implementation of the SDGs

PROGRAM ORIENTATION OF MUNICIPAL BUDGETS

The purpose of the article is to show the necessity of developing program-oriented municipal budgets. The view of different authors on the subject is presented, as well as good practices of other countries. The existing practice of developing strategic documents and budgets in Bulgarian municipalities is described. A sociological survey was made of the opinion of business organizations as partners of local authorities, regarding their participation in the budget process and in the development of strategic documents for the development of municipalities. The results show a rather skeptical attitude towards the possibilities of business organizations to influence local policies and the development of budgets. A proposal is made in the national legislation and in the local normative base of the municipalities to establish the requirement for coordination of the strategies, plans and programs developed at the municipal level with the annual budgets. Program budgeting at the municipal level is not only possible, but also imperative, due to its efficiency, transparency, opportunity for wider citizen participation in the budget process and in the development and implementation of local policies.

Preliminary study of geochemical speciation of copper and nickel in coastal sediments in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Surabaya is one of the big coastal cities in Indonesia with rapid municipal development. Thus, the investigation on the metal's geochemical speciation in the coastal sediment is required to assess the environmental quality by studying their mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity. This study is aimed at evaluating the condition of the Surabaya coast by assessing copper and nickel fractionations and total concentrations of both metals in sediments. Environmental assessments were performed by using geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI) for existing total heavy metal data and by using individual contamination factor (ICF) and risk assessment code (RAC) for metal fractionations. Copper speciation was observed geochemically in the fraction order of residual (9.21 - 40.08mg/kg) > reducible (2.33 - 11.98mg/kg) > oxidizable (0.75 - 22.71mg/kg) > exchangeable (0.40 - 2.06mg/kg), while the detected fraction order of nickel was residual (5.16 - 13.88mg/kg) > exchangeable (2.33 - 5.95mg/kg) > reducible (1.42 - 4.74mg/kg) > oxidizable (1.62 - 3.88mg/kg). Different fraction levels were found for nickel speciation wherein its exchangeable fraction was higher than copper, even though the residual fraction was dominant for both copper and nickel. The total metal concentrations of copper and nickel were found in the range of 13.5 - 66.1mg/kg dry weight and 12.7 - 24.7mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Despite the fact that almost all index values are detected low through total metal assessment, the port area is indicated to be in the moderate contamination category for copper. Through the assessment of metal fractionation, copper is classified into the low contamination and low-risk category, while nickel is categorized into the moderate contamination level and medium risk to the aquatic environment. Although the coast of Surabaya generally remains in the safe category for living habitat, certain sites had relatively high metal concentrations estimated to have originated from anthropogenic activities.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНА ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНИХ ГРОМАД В УМОВАХ НОВИХ СОЦІАЛЬНИХ ТА КОМУНІКАЦІЙНИХ ВИКЛИКІВ

<p><strong><em>The purpose</em></strong><em> of the study is to formulate the components of an effective communication policy of territorial municipalities in the context of a strategic vision of their development by means of territorial branding and marketing communications; to identify</em><em> the main communication strategies of all participants in the internal and external information environment of the municipality, aimed at the formation of an internal consolidated micro-society and countering the destructive consequences of military actions, etc.</em></p><p><strong><em>Research methodology.</em></strong><em> In the process of the research</em><em> of the internal and external components of the communication policy of one of the most progressive municipalities of the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as the direct participation of the article’s author in the development of its qualitative components, which are part of the strategic documents of the analyzed municipality, scientific research methods and practical implementation tools were involved, in particular, monitoring, SWOT analysis, public hearings, project activities, modeling, comparative, and structural analysis.</em></p><p><strong><em>Results. </em></strong><em>The introduction of martial law in Ukraine changed the functioning and development of territorial municipalities, a large part of which ended up in the war zone (or periodically falls into this list). However, previous achievements in the direction of sustainable processes of decentralization, in particular with regard to developed tools/channels of local communication in municipalities, are an actual object of attention because, under the conditions of military aggression, they became an effective means of humanitarian stabilization and security measures, prompted the patriotic impulse and emotional upsurge of Ukrainians </em><em>at the beginning of the military invasion, and should contribute to the effective restoration of democratic processes after the end of hostilities. Sustainable communication positioning is a powerful tool for the development of the territory not only in its quantitative (defined as absolute indicators of marketing positioning) but also in its qualitative (defined as conventional indicators of the formation of a favorable image and communication strategies for the community) dimension.</em></p><p><strong><em>Novelty.</em></strong><em> The work proves that branding and the use of marketing communications in the positioning of rural and township territories is an effective tool, on the one hand, for forming the image of a municipality</em><em>’s attractiveness and its competitiveness both in the regional and all-Ukrainian administrative and territorial space, and, on the other hand, as means of internal consolidation and improvement of the lives of local residents.</em></p><p><strong><em>Practical value.</em></strong><em> The results of the research have practical implementation and will be included in the strategic documents of Kushugum territorial municipality.</em></p><p><strong><em>Key words:</em></strong><em> branding, decentralization, martial law, information activity, marketing communications, patriotism, positioning, public communication, territorial municipality.</em></p>

Small- or Medium-Sized Enterprise Uses Operations Research to Select and Develop its Headquarters Location

Location decisions are strategic and usually multicriteria. In decision making, companies need to anticipate future developments at potential locations. Company-driven and municipal development measures change location conditions over time. For location-seeking companies, the realization of municipal measures is fraught with uncertainty. They are planned by several municipal actors, and their long-term implications are hard to predict. Thus, the early-systematic consideration of company-internal and -external development measures is vital for decision makers (DMs) in a future-oriented location assessment. In our paper, we develop a robust decision support framework for companies to solve the regional facility location and development planning problem (RFLDP). Our framework includes a quantitative planning approach based on established operations research (OR) optimization models and a practical guideline for a structured acquisition of relevant data. The chief executive officer (CEO) (or DM) of a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) asked us to solve his acute RFLDP. For this, we proposed a systematic workflow and accompanied the SME’s regional facility location and development planning. In doing so, we structured the CEO’s decision-making process effectively and created an objective-transparent basis for his strategic decisions. The core feature of our work is the inclusion of the human factor of DMs, as we interacted with the CEO along his decision-making process to gradually develop decision recommendations. As a result, the SME benefited from a better-informed and transparent planning process. We recommended a decision option that was structurally superior to other options, which emerged from the CEO’s intuition and conventional facility location problem solution approaches. Other stakeholders also benefited from the results of our work. History: This paper was refereed. Funding: This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) [Grant 439640382].

The Effects of Tourism on Local Development in Protected Nature Areas: The Case of Three Nature Parks of the Sierra Morena (Andalusia, Spain)

In rural spaces, new activities are developed to add to the traditional ones in the context of multifunctionality, considering the protection and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage, as in natural parks. These incorporate new recreational and tourist functions, understood as an instrument for local development. This research aims to study the relationships between tourism and local development in three natural parks (Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche, Sierra Norte de Sevilla, and Sierra de Hornachuelos) in Andalusia (Spain). The research uses a mixed methodology consisting of, on the one hand, selective interviews with stakeholders focused on tourism and local development processes and, on the other, secondary data to analyse the repercussions on local development. The results show (1) the prevalence among the informants of the economic dimension in local development above the environmental and sociocultural dimensions; (2) the influence of declarations of protection and implementation of development policies on the growth of the tourist offer; (3) uneven tourism development in the different municipalities and natural parks; and (4) the limited effects of tourism on local development.

Tietoliikenneyhteydet ja kuntien mahdollisuudet hyötyä digitalisaatiosta

High-speed telecommunications have a positive impact on the development of regions and municipalities. A poor digital infrastructure can lead to digital exclusion or a digital divide. In Finland, the strategy has therefore been to ensure that everyone has access to high-speed broadband. This article asks what the digital divide between different kinds of municipalities is, and how this divide affects teleworking and the use of telehealth services, for example. Answers are sought through spatial data and statistical analyses based on open municipal statistics from Traficom and Ookla. The results show that the digital divide is verifiable both in the urban-rural dimension and in the development of the telecommunications infrastructure. In the well-connected municipalities, telework and the use of digital health services were more common. Without policy measures, the digital divide would probably be even larger, as Finland has promoted the deployment of fixed broadband as part of regional and rural policy.

Smart transport in the conditions of the cities in the Slovak Republic

The main purpose of the article is to interpret the issues of the topic through a detailed empirical analysis, both from a theoretical and practical point of view. The aim of this article is to propose solutions for cities in the Slovak Republic through a set of selected indicators of sustainable urban development in the field of transport. Specific proposals were formulated on the basis of a detailed analysis of the current state of selected cities in the Slovak Republic with more than 50,000 inhabitants in the area of selected activities, which are defined as key for sustainable development in the field of smart transport. In this article, we provide a comprehensive view of the issue of sustainable development of cities and municipalities in the Slovak Republic in terms of the requirement to increase their sustainability in the future and to provide smart, efficient, accessible public services that increase the quality of life in the area. This article is part of the solution of Project VEGA no. 1/0837/21 “Spatial and temporal aspects of EU cohesion policy: Lessons learned and future perspectives” and Project VEGA no. 1/0055/21 “The importance of smart technologies in the process of mitigating the economic and socio-psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of citizens”.

Intersectoral Collaboration to Promote Child Development: The Contributions of the Actor-Network Theory

An integrated intersectoral care model promises to meet complex needs to promote early child development and address health determinants and inequities. Nevertheless, there is a lack of understanding of actors' interactions in producing intersectoral collaboration networks. The present study aimed to analyze the intersectoral collaboration in the social protection network involved in promoting early child growth and development in Brazilian municipalities. Underpinned by the tenets of actor-network theory, a case study was conducted with data produced from an educational intervention, entitled "Projeto Nascente." Through document analysis (ecomaps), participant observation (in Projeto Nascente seminars), and interviews (with municipal management representatives), our study explored and captured links among actors; controversies and resolution mechanisms; the presence of mediators and intermediaries; and an alignment of actors, resources, and support. The qualitative analysis of these materials identified three main themes: (1) agency fragility for intersectoral collaboration, (2) attempt to form networks, and (3) incorporation of fields of possibilities. Our findings revealed that intersectoral collaboration for promoting child growth and development is virtually non-existent or fragile, and local potential is missed or underused. These results emphasized the scarcity of action by mediators and intermediaries to promote enrollment processes to intersectoral collaboration. Likewise, existing controversies were not used as a mechanism for triggering changes. Our research supports the need to mobilize actors, resources, management, and communication tools that promote processes of interessement and enrollment in favor of intersectoral collaboration policies and practices for child development.

Methodological aspects of risk-based monitoring of economic security of apartment complex management companies

Subject. The article considers the monitoring of economic security of apartment management companies. Objectives. The aim is to underpin methodological approaches to identifying risks and threats associated with the activities of management companies of apartment buildings that are significant for socio-economic development of municipalities and regions. Methods. The study employs general scientific methods of cognition. Results. We established that management companies do not use methods for assessing threats and risks to ensure economic security. The study of the economic security of management companies demonstrated their clear impact on the economy of the region and the well-being of some industries related to water, electricity and heat supply of apartment buildings, as well as on socio-economic indicators of regional (municipal) development. In connection with these circumstances, in the development of the methodology, we considered areas of risk identification and then, on their basis, threats. The developed methodology can be used for external monitoring by industry regulatory authorities to minimize threats to economic security at the regional level, and to support the management companies themselves. Conclusions. To assess the economic stability of the housing and communal services industry, it is important to investigate the activities of management companies. The offered methodology for identifying threats to management companies to monitor their economic security enables to identify risks and threats to the economic condition of management companies, which is necessary to ensure economic security.

Sustainable development and sacrifice in the rural North

AbstractIn this article, I examine how the grand narratives of sustainability, development and mining impact local governance in a Swedish municipality. I do this by studying three mining projects under implementation and relate them to notions of development and sacrifice to lend insights into what the new trends of mining in Europe outlined above mean for the rural North. I regard sustainable development as a political concept ascribed to activities (such as political programmes or investments). Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the Storuman municipality, I show how politicians, political parties and government administrators position themselves in relation to the three mining projects. I provide a detailed account of perceptions, responses and practices in a local government that engage with three mining companies seeking to open mines within the municipal borders. I show how a tug of war between ideas of sustainable development or survival through sacrifice depoliticises and stabilises a dominant political line in favour of mining within local politics. While the respondents differed in what they thought that sacrifice might lead to, ranging from environmental disaster and social suffering to economic prosperity, I reveal a process wherein sustainable development becomes translated into ‘that which must be sacrificed’.

The development of tourism and its relationship with foreign languages: the case of Antioquia (Colombia)

In this article we report partial results of a needs assessment on language issues (foreign and native) in various sectors in Antioquia, Colombia, particularly regarding the tourism sector. Although the study does not focus on this sector specifically, the data revealed the growing importance of tourism in the department and the role of foreign languages in its strengthening. In this diagnosis, a document analysis of municipal development plans, a survey, focus groups, and interviews with different actors from the educational, productive, governmental and civil society sectors were carried out. The findings reflect the relevance of tourism in the social and economic development of the regions, as well as the growing importance of foreign languages, especially English, in the provision of tourist services and its close relationship with the vocation of the territories.

Governing cities through regions: Evolution of regional plans for the Yangtze River Delta mega city-region

The growth of regional plans in China since the new millennium has raised debates regarding the recentralization of the state in response to the crisis of urban entrepreneurialism. The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region is a case in point for exploration. As the first regional plan of its kind, orchestrated over the YRD, two additional plans have been formulated for this region in the subsequent years. By analyzing the recurrent regional plan experiments in the YRD, this study identified two dominant features that characterized the current regional plan trend in China. The first is the special attention paid to the positioning of the regional territory in the national and international context. The second is the importance attached to the national policy delivery in multilevel government systems. This case study illustrates that the rise of regional plans made by the state does not indicate a departure from entrepreneurial governance. Instead, it represents a “nationalized” YRD entrepreneurial strategy, whereby the national aspirations are regionalized around the YRD. In addition, it manifests recurrent experiments for a governance fix by the state to regulate municipal developments via regional plans without fundamental structural reforms. Through regional plans, the state manages to govern the cities with strategic significance.

Local State Capacity: an Analysis of Bureaucracy’ Professionalization Level and its Eflection on Development

Purpose: The current Brazilian State, after a context of patrimonialist formation, seeks to mold itself into a bureaucratic model with significant fragments of managerialism. Concerning to the public management efficiency discussion, the article aims to analyze the technical-administrative state capacity and the development of Goiás State municipalities. Theoretical framework: The theoretical bases for building the concept of state capacity and local development were presented. The articulation of this theoretical framework took place concerning the transition from the patrimonial to the managerial state. Emphasis was placed on historicity and the current conception of the public agent civil and the bureaucratic elements that surround him and, finally, the intersections that underlie the development of the public entity. Method/design/approach: Data from the Municipality Performance Index and the IBGE Municipal Basic Information Survey were used. The methodological approach was based on cluster analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results and conclusion: The results showed that the economic data bundling assists typologies creation of homogeneous municipalities for development analysis, highlighting those that are more dependent on the local public administration. Research implications: It was found that, in a significant number of municipalities, there is a positive correlation between state capacity, professionalization of bureaucracy and development. Originality/value: The results indicate that greater municipal development can be achieved by improving the technical-administrative state capacity and the public service through the professionalization of the bureaucracy.

Competition of Territories for the Future: Features of Origin and Formation

The competition of territories is an objective reality, however, some theoretical and methodological issues of its development today and especially in the future still need to be finalized. The article is devoted to the disclosure of socio-economic prerequisites and opportunities for designing the competition of territories for the future in the conditions of the emerging economic space. The authors support and develop the position according to which the competition of territories for the future is largely determined by the construction of the image of the future of territories. The assertion is substantiated that the competition of territories for the future is a struggle for the opportunity to form the future architecture of the socio-economic development of the territory, for achieving future success that goes beyond the established (traditional) ideas about the successful development of regions and municipalities. The main characteristics of the competitive competencies of the territory, as well as territorial individuality, are formulated. The authors consider it necessary for the heads of regions and municipalities to pay increased attention to the formation and preservation of intangible competitive advantages of the territories under their jurisdiction.

НЕКОТОРЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫХ ПРОЕКТОВ В МУНИЦИПАЛЬНЫХ ОБРАЗОВАНИЯХ СЕВЕРНЫХ И АРКТИЧЕСКИХ РЕГИОНОВ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ В СОВРЕМЕННЫХ ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКИХ УСЛОВИЯХ (по результатам экспертных опросов 2021–2023 гг.)

The article presents the results of a sociological study conducted in the period from August 1 to September 1, 2023 among the heads of municipalities of a number of cities in the Far North and the Arctic of Russia. 35 experts from 27 municipalities belonging to the Union of Cities of the North and the Arctic took part in the survey. The article also compares the data with the results of our research in 2021-2022 on similar issues. The survey was aimed at identifying the opinions of experts on key problems of the development of municipalities, taking into account changes in the global world situation, sanctions pressure from unfriendly states, and also aimed at determining the points of possible growth of socio-economic development of municipalities of the Far North and the Arctic of the Russian Federation. This article analyzes some aspects of the implementation of national projects at the municipal level, identifies the main problems that do not allow the full implementation of the entire range of measures, as well as assess the prospects for the implementation of national projects in the future. In order to achieve a more complete understanding of the current situation, municipalities were grouped into two groups according to their specific characteristics, belonging to regional and industrial centers, as well as small towns. The article concludes that it is necessary to increase the role of national projects and intensify work in this direction at the level of municipalities of the Arctic and northern regions of the Russian Federation to solve the problems of minimizing adverse economic consequences associated with the changed geopolitical situation in the world.