Regional Socio-economic Systems Research Articles

Characteristics of the Basic Socio-Economic Factors of the Development of Small Towns in Russia

Currently, small towns in Russia are going through a difficult period due to changes in the economic situation, demographic trends and financial constraints. These factors have a significant impact on the lives of citizens and require in-depth study and analysis. The purpose of the study is to identify the general features of small forms of settlement as part of the regional socio-economic system for the further development of proposals for the formation of specific measures for the socio-economic development of small towns. The research was conducted on a sample of data from 82 regions of Russia for 2018–2022 according to 11 statistical hypotheses. The work used modern methods of statistical analysis, including testing the normality of distribution (ShapiroWilk statistics), equality of variances (Livigne criterion) and the method of statistical testing of hypotheses based on the Mann-Whitney test. Calculations were performed in the Python software environment using the NumPy and Pandas libraries for data preprocessing and SciPy and XlsxWriter for statistical analysis and export results. The following socio-economic indicators are considered: average per capita cash income of the population, gross regional product and investment in fixed capital per capita, average turnover of organizations and the share of the population with cash income below the subsistence level. It is shown that, within the framework of the existing administrative structure of regional governance, regions with different levels of urbanization have statistically significant differences in these indicators. At the same time, no such differences were found in relation to indicators such as expenditures and revenues of consolidated budgets per person, the total area of residential premises per inhabitant on average, the fertility rate, the population maturity index and the dynamics of population change over 10 years (2012-2022 inclusive).

Diagnostics of the influence of medical and demographic indicators on regional socio-economic systems

The article presents approaches to monitoring and assessing social aspects of regional systems with identification of elements of the health system and demographic components that potentially affect the economic efficiency of functioning of territories. The relevance of the article is determined by objective features of the development of mesoterritories. The analysis of spatial features of the systems’ functioning was conducted on the materials of the Central Federal District. The purpose of the study is to assess the features of the regional genesis using regression analysis and the resulting indicator – gross regional product (hereinafter referred to as GRP), which allows us to give a more reliable characterisation of the mesoterritorial transformation. The subjects were grouped according to the quality of medical and demographic characteristics on the basis of the cluster analysis with further allocation of flagship, catching-up and lagging regions. To substantiate the reliability of the territories’ affiliation to a specific cluster group, a statistical analysis was performed on average values with consideration to identification of the level of medical and demographic development. The conclusion is made about the influence of some factor criteria on the regional space with the construction of a scatter plot. It displays the affiliation to the selected confidence interval and distribution of the elements of the set in the plane between the resulting and factor values, describing the dependence of the GRP on the medical and demographic indicator. These econometric and analytical models can be used by regional governments in the process of strategic planning.

Development of regional economic infrastructure based on innovation

Object: The purpose of this article is to consider the development of regional innovation activity: principles, objectives, operational elements, and approaches to managing the development of innovation activity at the regional level. Methods: The research uses methods of statistical analysis, comparative analysis, and graphs. Findings: The key results of the study are summarized in the following conclusions: 1) The study examines the main factors of competitiveness, their impact, and relevance to increasing competitiveness in the regional socio-economic system. 2) The study shows that the region has difficulty accepting and developing innovations and that the level of innovation is not yet at the proper level. 3) It was presented that innovation and logistics have a huge impact on the competitiveness of the region. 4) The growth rates of the number of innovative products and the growth rates of the share of large and medium-sized companies using digital technologies in the industry have been determined. Conclusions: A detailed description of innovations in the region makes it possible to compare the levels of development of the innovation sphere in the region. The detection of the dependence of the subjects of economic relations on the conditions proposed in the study makes it possible to establish the characteristics of innovative interaction together with the external and internal components of the innovation process of the regional economy.

РАЗВИТИЕ ЦИФРОВИЗАЦИИ БИЗНЕС-ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ И ПРОЦЕССОВ В РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЙ И ОТРАСЛЕВОЙ ЭКОНОМИКЕ

The purpose of the article is to consider the conceptual aspects of the development of digitalization of business technologies and processes in the regional and sectoral economy, especially in the practice of industrial enterprises in the context of the need to transition to the concept of an adaptive economy. Discussion: theoretical constructions and practical techniques for studying and researching the essence, content and specifics of the digitalization of business technologies and processes at the level of industries and regions are very complex and ambiguous, which confirms the importance of the issue under consideration, which receives priority positions in systemology, which, when considering various aspects of the processes of improving the sustainable development of complex socio-economic industrial systems have very little impact on such important aspects of development as digitalization. Results: the article attempts to formulate and substantiate the most relevant approaches to the formation of directions for the development of digitalization of business technologies and processes at the meso- and micro-levels, to study the essence and content of digitalization, to determine the prospects for state support in relation to complex sectoral and regional socio-economic systems that invariably need higher socio-economic indicators and rational use of resources. A system of priority directions for the development of innovative production processes, digital management and the investment portfolio of industrial enterprises has been formed. The main directions of increasing the efficiency of the production process of industrial enterprises are identified and ways to achieve digital security of industrial enterprises are formulated. The analysis of the growth rates of industrial enterprises and their socio-economic importance in the dynamics of the gross domestic product of the country is carried out. The progressive development of the economy is confirmed by the positive dynamics of the gross regional product, which determines the need and priority of state support in the field of digitalization of industrial production. The above research expands theoretical and methodological ideas about the processes of transition and implementation of digitalization in industrial enterprises, the problem of ensuring their sustainable development, especially in modern conditions of an unstable state of the economic system.

Will changing land use and cropping practices affect resource use efficiency and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems? A hierarchical emergy assessment approach

Rapid loss of agricultural land is occurring in fast-growing urbanizing regions in Asia, accompanied by shifts from conventional cultivation practices to cope with changing social and economic demands. To date, comprehensive analyses of the relationship between agricultural land changes and overall regional development remain scarce. In addition, more research is needed to assess the impacts of different cropping practices on the regional agriculture systems from a micro perspective. This study focuses on Changhua County in Taiwan, incorporating its socioeconomic and environmental components into a socio-ecological system model. A hierarchical emergy synthesis framework for the whole county was used to explore the changing role of the agricultural system within the socioeconomic system. We used emergy synthesis to analyze and compare the performance of three cropping practices. The results indicate that the role of these cropping practices in the county's overall socioeconomic system has gradually diminished over time despite improvements in their operational efficiency. Among them, multi-cropping received the highest emergy inflows from the economic system and resulted in the highest energy density, while rice-grain rotation had the lowest. Although higher economic investment in multi-cropping influenced environmental loading and sustainability, its impact was relatively minor in the context of the entire county. We demonstrate the transition of agricultural practices in response to regional land use changes and suggest that regions experiencing severe land use changes should prioritize the adaptation of agricultural practices within the overall regional socioeconomic system. As cropping practices evolve, their functional integration within the system also changes, and their implications for resource efficiency and environmental sustainability should be assessed.

Анализ OLAP-решений для исследования жизнеспособности региональных социально-экономических систем

The article is devoted to the well-grounded choice of software tools for processing multidimensional data for use in scientific and applied tasks of studying the resilience of regional socio-economic systems. A scheme of a software solution for resilience modeling based on the integration of a simulation environment and an OLAP system is proposed. A brief general description of software OLAP solutions is given, with their classification in accordance with the mechanisms of operating with multidimensional data. The authors present the results of the analysis of domestic software products of the OLAP system class according to the criteria formed by them on the basis of functional and technical requirements for the software and hardware of the study.

Strategic aspects of OTSW analysis of the residential real estate market in Moscow during the contingency period

Subject. The article addresses the OTSW analysis of the residential real estate market of Moscow during the contingency period caused by cyclical growth of housing prices, speculative expectations, and an increase in the debt burden of the population. Objectives. The aim is to identify strategic opportunities that form the potential development of all regional economic actors in the housing market. For each strategic opportunity of the actors, the paper aims to identify threats formed by the contingency period, reveal strengths and weaknesses that would help realize opportunities and minimize the effect of existing and potential threats to the development of the housing market. Methods. The analysis rests on the methodology of strategizing by academician V.L. Kvint. Results. Based on the strategic analysis of the residential real estate market that confirms the presence of characteristics of the contingency period in the Moscow housing market, I formulated strategic opportunities of involved actors that reduce the negative impact of emerging threats of the phenomenon under consideration. The findings can be used by government agencies to identify and implement strategic opportunities of actors of the regional real estate market, should the contingency period occur. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that despite the potentially significant impact of emergence of characteristics of the contingency period in the Moscow housing market on strategic stability of the considered element of the regional socio-economic system, the phenomenon’s negative impact can be minimized by increasing the efficiency of the strategic management system and optimizing the use of limited resources.

Взаимосвязь развития региона и функ­ционирования вузов (на примере Северо-Западного федерального округа)

The role of universities in regional socio-economic systems is pivotal. However, despite the overall trend of GRP growth, regions of Russia’s Northwestern Federal District underperform on education-related measures. These include the share of education in GRP, the percentage of individuals employed in the education sector and the number of universities and students. These trends pose a substantial challenge to regional development, especially in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and the rise of the knowledge economy. The lack of attention to the education sector may stem from the gross underestimation of its contribution to regional development. By implementing their ‘third mission’, universities exert influence on the economy, politics and socially responsible industries in their home region. A better understanding of the role of universities in regional development requires a comprehensive evaluation of their performance. This study aims to evaluate the performance of regional universities and examine its impact on regional socio-economic indicators. The paper proposes a methodology for evaluating the performance of regional universities and presents the results of its application in the regions of Russia’s Northwestern Federal District. The universities of the Arkhangelsk region and St Petersburg demonstrated the highest performance levels, whilst those of the Leningrad region were the lowest. Correlation analysis showed a significant connection between universities’ performance levels and the key socio-economic indicators of regional development. Universities’ performance levels vary significantly across Russia’s Northwestern regions. The findings may interest researchers studying regional development issues and administrators of universities prioritising the implementation of the third mission. Additionally, the results can inform decisions regarding the advancement of higher education at the regional level within the Northwestern Federal District.

Зміцнення конкурентоспроможності регіональних ринків праці в Україні як механізм протистояння безпековим викликам

The article updates the issue of ensuring the competitiveness of regional labor markets of Ukraine in conditions of critical instability caused by the consequences of the full-scale war. The aim of the study is to substantiate the priorities and tools for strengthening the competitiveness of regional labor markets in Ukraine as a mechanism for confronting security challenges. It was noted that the war became a systemic challenge not only to the functioning, but also to the preservation of the civilized labor market. It has been proven that, in the current situation, the State administration and local self-government bodies should activate, first of all, the economic tools of regulation in order to preserve the key structural characteristics of the labor market, existing jobs and opportunities for employment, self-employment, available human and, in particular, labor-resource capital, but also rational use of potentially new opportunities. At this, the main focus should be on preserving the human potential of the country and its regions against the background of high migration activity of the population. Four key directions of the regional policy of strengthening the competitiveness of the regional labor markets of Ukraine have been identified: 1) structural; 2) normative and legal; 3) infrastructural; 4) security. It is shown that from the point of view of subjects of regulation, regional policy should be oriented towards overcoming the main challenges, risks and threats to the functioning of the labor market and their impact on the regional economy. From this position, the entire range of economic levers and means of management is contrasted with the factors and consequences of: 1) the full-scale war; 2) post-war reconstruction of national and regional economies; 3) the preservation of systemic problems and obstacles to the functioning of the labor market; 4) the development of its structural asymmetries, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the specifics and impact of migration processes on the regional socioeconomic system. It is decided that this method is characterized by timeliness and systematicity, adaptability to the existential challenges of the existence of Ukraine, its integrity and security.

Development of performance criteria for the main activities of educational organizations in regional socio-economic systems

Development of performance criteria for the main activities of educational organizations in regional socio-economic systems

Study of the Relationship Between Regional Development and the Activities of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Relevance. In modern economic conditions it is necessary to improve the management process of regional development, to find resources to increase the economic security of the region, to increase the sustainability of the development of regional socio-economic system in an uncertain external environment. An essential resource for the development of regions and the country as a whole is the activity of small business.The purpose is to develop an algorithm for comprehensive assessment of regional development, including the analysis of correlation with labor productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises.Objectives: to analyze approaches to the essence and content of the concept of "development" of the enterprise and the region in the modern conditions of the Russian economy; to formulate the main goals and directions of development of the enterprise and the region in accordance with differentiated approaches to the interpretation of development; to develop and apply the algorithm of complex assessment of regional development on factual materials; to determine strategic directions of formation of the environment of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship to strengthen the propulsive impact on the regional development.Methodology. The basis of the conducted research are the methods of system analysis, expert evaluation, correlation and regression analysis, methods of analysis and synthesis, graphic and tabular visualization of the obtained research results.Results. It is proposed to identify the propulsive impact of SME activity as a structural element of the regional socio-economic system on the final results of its development. The research and measurement of socio-economic development of the regions of the Central Federal District in accordance with the proposed algorithm, one of the stages of which is the assessment of the correlation between the level of development of the region and the productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises. On the basis of the obtained data the directions of creation of favorable guarantee conditions for the support of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship as a multiplier of socioeconomic development are determined.Conclusions. Within the framework of the conducted research the technology of research and assessment of the impact of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship on regional development with the subsequent transformation of the assessment results into strategic directions of formation of favorable and stimulating environment for small business as a driver of regional development was proposed.

Model Representation of Adjustable Differentiation of Regional Socio-Economic Systems

Introduction. According to the law of differentiation, the uneven development of the elements of the system leads to its heterogeneity and is a necessary precondition for the process of evolution. By weakening the links between the elements of the system, differentiation initiates disturbances during coordination processes. The objectively existing contradiction in the organization of socio-economic systems between coordination and differentiation can be overcome by managing the process of differentiation of the elements of the system. The aim of the study is to build an economic and mathematical model of regulated differentiation of regional socio-economic systems (subjects of the Russian Federation, the country as a whole), allowing to establish the conditions and limitations of equilibrium trajectories of their functioning, as well as to determine the parameters of differentiation that stimulates economic growth. Materials and Methods. The hypothesis of the study is an assumption about the influence of intra-territorial differentiation on economic growth and socio-economic development of the region. The methodological approach based on the representation of the model of uneven development of territories in comparison with the dynamic characteristics of their economic development is proposed and implemented. The approach is based on the study of the properties of nonlinear autonomous dynamic systems. The model is presented in the form of a system of differential equations in the space of values of the decile coefficient of differentiation and gross regional product per capita. Results. The calculations carried out on statistical data for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for 2 years empirically confirmed the hypothesis put forward about the impact of intra-territorial differentiation on the economic development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The results obtained complement the theoretical ideas about the stimulating effects of uneven territorial development and confirm the consistency of the provisions of the concept of regulated differentiation of socio-economic development of territories. Discussion and Conclusion. The scope of application of the research results consists in the possibility of building a dynamic economic-mathematical model of regulated differentiation of regional socio-economic systems (subjects of the Russian Federation, the country as a whole), allowing to determine the parameters of differentiation that stimulates economic growth, and the development on its basis of normative strategies for territorial development.

Economic Efficiency of Public Administration in the Field of Digital Development

"In the article, based on the analysis of the essential characteristics of digitalization, it is proposed to consider the concept of efficiency in relation to the activities of public authorities as a generalized and interconnected series of such concepts as economy, qualimetricity, and effectiveness. The efficiency of public administration, including economic efficiency, is considered as the implementation of management, during which the set goals are achieved (solving a certain socially significant problem, satisfying the interests of the population, maintaining digital competitiveness of region and country) while minimizing costs and observing the current standards of digital maturity. It is proposed to understand the assessment of the effectiveness of public administration as a set of methods for measuring actual indicators that reflect the results of the public authorities’ activities within the framework of the strategies, programs, and projects being implemented in accordance with the criteria laid down in them, and in this case the assessment is seen as the direct result of such a measurement, which serves to compare the activities of public administration subjects, compare this activity with the declared goals, the results of past periods. The proposed leading and signal indicators can be used in planning and forecasting the level of digital development of regional socio-economic systems."

Energy management of municipalities as an indicator of differentiation of municipal districts by quality of management in the Leningrad region

Aim. To determine the possibility of assessing the energy management of municipalities as an in­dicator of differentiation of municipal districts by quality of management in the Leningrad region.Tasks. To describe the energy capacity of the Leningrad region; to assess the impact of energy management as a management practice on the differentiation of municipal districts in terms of management quality; to compare the quality of general management and energy management in municipal districts.Methods. The authors used modern methodology of socio-economic research, including the ap­plication of system and process approaches, the method of comparative analysis.Results. A mismatch was found between the overall quality of management (in terms of assessed results) and the quality of energy management in municipal districts.Conclusions. According to the author's position, the uneven quality of management in munici­pal districts is obvious. The necessity of introducing into the practice of municipal management of the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation (RF) a more responsible approach to solving the problem of improving the energy efficiency of the regional socio-economic system as a goal of energy management, which should be seen as a means to improve the system of public pro­duction (goods and services) and improve the quality of environment and life of the population in the region under study.

Инновационная инфраструктура как фактор повышения конкурентоспособности региона

In modern conditions, innovative infrastructure is a fundamental element for the development of a regional economic system. The availability of an efficient innovation infrastructure optimizes the process of the implementation of promising production ideas and their commercialization in the industrial sector of the region. The purpose of this study is connected with the assessment possibility of the influence level of innovations on the competitiveness of regional economic system in the context of global competition and uncertainty growth in social and production processes. The methodological basis of the study is presented by the results of research studies by domestic and foreign experts, within which a comprehensive analysis of conditions and specifics of innovative transformations in the development of the region was carried out, with the identification of promising opportunities for relevant innovations’ integration into the regional socio-economic system. In accordance with this, in the course of the study, the following general theoretical and special research methods were applied: statistical analysis, generalization, grouping, systematization, deduction, induction, and graph theory. The result of the study is the assessment of the impact of innovations on the development of the regional economic system, as well as to form the conditions for construction of innovative infrastructure and predict the results of its impact on the level of competitiveness of the region in case of its optimal integration in accordance with the functioning of national or international organizations. The results obtained can be used by state and regional authorities that provide optimal innovative development and implementation of an economically determined sequence of activities within the framework of regional innovation policy, as well as small and medium-sized production entities, scientific and educational organizations operating in the development and implementation of high-tech products with increased value.

ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL LABOR MARKET IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE PERM REGION)

Introduction. The long-term sustainable functioning of regional socio-economic systems in modern conditions of economic transformation directly depends on the pace, ratio and structural characteristics of regional labor markets. At the same time, in fact, in the regional socio-economic systems of the modern Russian Federation, the functions of the labor market are implemented in most cases not in full and insufficiently effectively. Methods. The research is based on analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, abstraction, critical analysis of special literature, economic and statistical analysis. Results. The analysis of the current state of the regional labor market of the Perm Region is characterized by a number of quantitative and qualitative indicators that influence the trends in labor productivity, the financial and economic efficiency of the functioning of the region's economy and, ultimately, the level and quality of life of the population. Conclusions. The main trends and problems of the development of the regional labor market of the Perm Region (2016-2022) are identified, as well as the directions and problems of its influence on the functioning of the regional economy as a whole.

“Soft” Factors for Ensuring Spatial Integration of Russia’s Northern Regions

Introduction. Despite the fact that the problem of spatial integration is widely studied by scientists, science has not developed an unambiguous understanding of the factors that ensure it in practice. At the same time, the experience of developed countries indicates an increase in the role of non-economic (“soft”) factors, which include close social ties between territories. The purpose of the article is to study the social ties of the population of the northern regions of Russia from the standpoint of considering them as a “soft” factor in the integration of the socio-economic space. Materials and Methods. The object of research is the European North of Russia as an open regional socio-economic system. The theoretical part of the study is based on a critical analysis of the scientific literature on the issues of spatial integration and the study of social ties as a factor that ensures it. The analytical part is based on the use of a sound methodological approach to the study of social ties of territories, based on the results of a comprehensive analysis of the Big Data of the social network “VKontakteˮ, as well as sociological surveys of residents. Results. The role of social ties as a “soft” factor of spatial integration is substantiated. Using the developed methodological approach, the internal social ties of the northern territories, the trends towards their spatial transformation associated with the active centripetal vector of population migration to the large cities of the region, as well as St. Petersburg and Moscow, have been revealed. This leads both to the activation of agglomeration processes and to the rupture of ties with remote territories. Discussion and Conclusion. The hypothesis about the presence of closer ties between neighboring territories is confirmed, which is especially evident for the Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions. However, in order to deepen integration processes, it is also important to support their production, economic, cultural, educational and other ties. The scientific significance of the work lies in the expansion of approaches to the study of spatial integration factors; substantiation of tools for a comprehensive assessment of the social ties of territories. The practical significance lies in identifying trends and directions for the spatial transformation of the social ties of the European North of Russia, which will serve as the basis for the development of effective management decisions in the field of coordinating the socio-economic development of the northern territories of Russia.

Моделирование процессов сложной социально-экономической системы при выборе стратегических приоритетов развития

To change the economic processes and stabilize the socio-political situation, the authorities need an effective set of tools and methods of socio-economic management. They require new and better means of strategic planning that provide a controlled development of the national economy. This research features advanced forms and methods of econometric modeling in the regional socio-economic system. The research relied on the strategizing methodology developed by Professor V.L. Kvint, as well as the Strategist’s Office software that makes it possible to construct mathematical models of economic processes for a particular region. The predictive analytical model covered ten basic economic processes. This article introduces some factors and indicators defined for the transport infrastructure based on the index approach. The experimental part focused on the case of the North-Western and Volga Federal Districts. The set of tasks for regional development strategizing ranges from the theoretical and methodological provisions to the development of a digital twin of a regional economic system designed with the help of tools that provide information support for analysis, assessment, and forecasting. Regional strategizing is considered as a model of a regional socio-economic system defined as a structure that includes a number of autonomous subsystems with certain objective and measurable indicators.

The spatiotemporal evolution of socioeconomic drought in the Arid Area of Northwest China based on the Water Poverty Index

The Arid Area of Northwest China (AANC) has the most resource-based water scarcity in China. It also has engineering-, structural-, and management-based water scarcity, all of which seriously restricts the AANC's socioeconomic development. This paper uses the Water Poverty Index's (WPI) characterization of socioeconomic drought to analyze WPI change trends and spatiotemporal patterns in the AANC from 2001 to 2020. Further, the paper comprehensively analyzes the relative water scarcity degree across different zones, using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) to identify the main factors affecting the WPI and the contribution rate of each factor. The results show that the average value of the WPI in the AANC from 2001 to 2020 was 45.6, indicating severe drought. However, from 2016 onward, the degree of socioeconomic drought eased and then transitioned to moderate drought. Significant differences in the spatial distribution of the WPI occur in the AANC, with the WPI in the Hexi Corridor (47.17) being higher than the regional average (45.32), the WPI in northern Xinjiang (45.74) being the same as the regional average, and the WPI in southern Xinjiang (43.05) being lower. There are different types of water scarcity problems across the region, with Alashan, Kezhou and Zhangye experiencing water scarcity that is resource-, engineering-, and management-based, respectively. Numerous factors affect the socioeconomic drought in the AANC. Potential water resources are the main factor, with a contribution rate of 36.58%. Water supply facilities, utilization capacity, use efficiency, and the environment have a relatively small impact on the WPI, with contribution rates of 18.29%, 15.36%, 15.52%, and 14.25%, respectively. This study can provide a reference framework for the construction of a regional socioeconomic index system for drought evaluation. It can also provide scientific and technological support for regional water resources management and industrial structure planning.

Simulation modelling of multi-agent regional socio-economic systems: methods and examples

The paper presents a new approach to modelling multi-agent regional socio-economic systems. Within the framework of the proposed approach, the possibilities of constructing hybrid multi-level simulation models using methods system dynamics and agent-based modelling, designed to assess the state of individual regions, characterizing the economic growth rate (e. g., the GRP dynamics) and finding solutions to improve them. As a result, it is possible to study the characteristics of the regional socio-economic system, taking into account the complex relationships and interactions between economic agents and the external environment. At the same time, the use of the simulation modelling tools such as the AnyLogic makes it possible to implement a decision-making system for regional socio-economic planning as the software framework.