Socioeconomic Geography Research Articles

Российская и Мировая Арктика — монографическое исследование демографов, социологов и экономистов

At the beginning of 2022, the Political Encyclopedia Publishing House (ROSSPEN) published a collective monograph “Russian and World Arctic: Population, Economy, Settlement” / Fauzer V.V., Smirnov A.V., Lytkina T.S., Fauzer G.N.; ed. by prof. Fauzer, Moscow, Political Encyclopedia Publ., 2022, 215 p. ISBN 978-5-8243-2479-2. The reviewers were well-known scientists: S. V. Ryazantsev, Corresponding Member of the RAS, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Director of the Institute for Demographic Studies of the Federal Research Sociological Centre of RAS, and A. N. Pilyasov, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Socio-Economic Geography of Foreign Countries, Faculty of Geography, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Materialne dziedzictwo kulturowe polsko-niemieckiego obszaru przygranicznego – geneza, stan i perspektywy. Studium przypadku Ziemi Lubuskiej

The article is part of the current scientific considerations on material cultural heritage from the perspective of historical geography. This approach means focusing on the historical dimension of the contemporary world and on identifying the influence of the former spatial organization of a given area on its current features. The main goal of the article is to analyze the present condition of the most important elements of the immovable material cultural heritage of the Polish-German border area, focusing on the case study of Lubusz Land. This analysis is preceded by a discussion of the origins and typical features of individual heritage elements in the research area, and concludes with an attempt to define the perspectives for these components in terms of their social perception, protection and role in the development of contemporary spatial structures and the preservation of their historic character. The research in the scope specified above was carried out with the use of the methodological apparatus of history and socio-economic geography, including the philological, genetic and retrogressive methods as well as visual field analysis, mathematical and statistical methods and the cartographic presentation of phenomena. The conducted analysis allowed the formulation of conclusions about the quantitative and structural richness of the cultural heritage in the Polish-German border area, which in the genetic aspect is primarily related to the period of domination of German culture in the past centuries. However, the physical condition of this heritage is actually critical due to the impact of economic, legal and property, and institutional factors as well as those related to awareness that were liberated as a result of the collapse of the German state in its shape before 1945, the events of World War II, and radical political, social and economic changes in the post-war period. The post-socialist systemic transformation, initiated in Poland and East Germany in 1990, did not bring about any fundamental positive changes regarding the determinants and factors shaping the fate of the immovable material cultural heritage of the Polish-German border area. This conclusion applies especially to the eastern (Polish) part of this area. Negative tendencies are continued.

General Characteristics of Local Lore Documental Network Resources of the Libraries of Azerbaijan (Based on library collection)

Changing economic conditions, along with the economic development of seperate parts of a country put forward the solution of territorial problems. Therefore, economic zoning as a classic direction of socio-economic geography is becaming current. Azerbaijan has a rich experience in conducting research on scientific and economic zoning. As a result of the accumulation of theoretical basis and experience in carrying out this type of work, there has been a change in the structure of economic zoning: from defining it as a natural-historical whole formation to a territorial production complex, as a non-productive sphere and management, as a socio-economic system based on the territorial unity of people, etc. Consideration of the economic region as a territorial system implies a development in which its individual subsystems and elements have factors and consequences in accordance with their internal laws.
 Economic regions are considered to be complex, hierarchically regulated open systems. They consist of an interconnected combination of multilevel functional and structural subsystems. Here the system and the complex relations are combined for the purpose of general development. Therefore, when studying these territorial entities, it is necessary to use a system-structural approach and take into account the accumulated experience of the complex approach used in economic zoning. At the end of this practice, rich information resources on economic regions are formed, which form the composition of local lore sources. The general issues mentioned in the article are explained in a comprehensive way.

Project of basin nature management of the Vorskla river within the boundaries of Prokhorovsky district

Belgorod Oblast, which occupies 0.2% of the country’s territory, is among the leading subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of agricultural production. At present, about 61% of the oblast’s territory is occupied by arable land, at least half of which, to varying degrees, is eroded. High agricultural load combined with accelerated water erosion of soils has led to a significant deterioration of the resource and environmental condition of agricultural landscapes. Negative changes affected almost all components of agro-ecosystems. First of all, it affected their central component - the soil cover: as a result of long-term exploitation and increasing water erosion, the reserves of humus and mineral nutrients decreased significantly. The region’s river network has also undergone significant changes: over the last century, its length has decreased by 35% from its original state. The above trends in the development of degradation processes determine the need for geoplanning solutions to ensure the soil conservation organization of nature management in the Belgorod region. In the current situation it is necessary to scientifically justified transformation of agricultural landscapes into sustainable agro-ecosystems. In this case, it is necessary to use a comprehensive geo-ecological approach to the organization of the landscape envelope with a rational spatial combination of natural and economic components. This idea is the basis of a new synthetic direction of socio-economic geography - geoplanning. Geo-planning approach will allow to embody geo-ecological aspects of ecosystems functioning through a set of design solutions.

“A Painful and Tender Sympathy Pervaded Every Class of Society”

AbstractThe Great Irish Famine was a moment of unprecedented global giving. Sympathy for the suffering Irish traversed class hierarchies and vast geographical spaces, with indentured workers in the West Indies donating alongside members of the royal family and attendees at charity balls and galas in New York, Port Elizabeth, and Surrey. This article examines the socioeconomic geographies of this giving. It provides a quantitative analysis that brings together donations from both sides of the Atlantic, approaching these donors as a single global community. This famine giving is also considered within the context of wider traditions of Western humanitarianism. The article suggests that although famine humanitarianism mobilized a vast community of donors and traversed class, gender, and ethnic groups, it was ultimately a conservative force that upheld social hierarchies and replicated the socioeconomic and racial inequalities that characterize Western humanitarianism more generally.

ANALYSIS OF APPROACHES TO DETERMINING THE CONCEPTS OF "QUALITY OF LIFE" AND "STANDARD OF LIVING" OF THE POPULATION (A CASE STUDY OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE NORTH OF SIBERIA)

In the article, the terms “quality of life” and “standard of living” of the population are considered and delimited in justification. The reasons for studying these concepts are given. Criteria and indicators for assessing the quality of life and the standard of living of the population are considered. The variety of interpretations of these categories is considered. Their significance for modern studies of socio-economic (social) geography is determined. An analysis of methodological approaches to assessing the quality of life of the population based on objective criteria and subjective ideas has been carried out. An economic-geographical approach is used, which is characterized by a systematic and comprehensive nature, which makes it possible to identify territorial differences in the quality of life of the population at different levels. The features of the interaction between the categories of quality of life and the standard of living of the population, and their specific characteristics are considered. Based on the analysis of theoretical materials, the authors developed a methodology for assessing the quality of life of residents in hard-to-reach areas of the northern and central taiga zone of Siberia, the indigenous peoples of the North and Siberia.

Газарзүйн Асуудлууд сэтгүүлийн хөгжлийн тойм шинжилгээ (2001-2021)

For the last 90 years, approximately 100 research magazines have been published in each scientific sector of Mongolia in the Mongolian, Russian and English languages. But there is not any published research which clarifies development trends of each sector involving a review and analysis in the scientific journal of any specific area or sector in Mongolia. I have undertaken a review and analysis of this research using a comparative analysis method. In this article, the research published in the journal of Geographic Issues over the last 20 years was compared. This involved the review of articles, the involvement of authors, the similarities and differences in the field of scientific content, and the development trends of research. This was all clarified. The results showed that except for Mongolian researchers, Russian, German, British, American and Japanese researchers published their articles in this journal. Within the period the research involved 168 researchers who participated as a first author and 400 researchers as other authors in the publication of a total of 359 articles in developing the journal of Geographical Issues. Regarding the scope, more than 10 articles were published in the areas of service geography, meteorology and climate science, land relations, urban geography, environmental science, hydrology, agricultural geography, recreational geography, remote sensing and geomorphological studies. Baseline study materials of physics and social geography, which are the main sectors of geography, have comparatively been published rarely. The main trend of the magazine is inter-sectoral research work based on physical geography and socio-economic geography. It was a key principle of this magazine to publish this research by filtering them in an ethical and fair manner.

The selection of areas for case study research in socio-economic geography with the application of k-means clustering

The grouping techniques which are known in statistics are rarely used by geographers to select a research area. The aim of the paper is to examine the potential use of the k-means clustering (partitioning) method for the selection of spatial units (here: gminas, i.e. the lowest administrative units in Poland) for case studies in socio-economic geography. We explored this topic by solving a practical problem consisting in the optimal designation of gminas for in-depth research on the interaction between nature protection and local and regional development in the Polish Carpathians. Particular attention was devoted to defining an appropriate number of clusters by means of the elbow method as well as the pseudo-F statistic (the Calinski-Harabasz index). The data for the analysis were mostly provided by Statistics Poland and covered the period of 1999–2012. The multi-stage procedure resulted in the selection of the following gminas: Cisna, Lipinki, Ochotnica Dolna, Sękowa, Szczawnica and Zawoja. The example described in the paper demonstrates that the k-means technique, despite its certain deficiencies, may prove useful for creating classifications and typologies leading to the selection of case study sites, as it is relatively time-effective, intuitive and available in opensource software. At the same time, due to the complexity of the socio-economic characteristics of the areas, the application of this method in socio-economic geography may require support in terms of the interpretation of the results through the analysis of additional data sources and expert knowledge.

РАЗВИТИЕ РОССИЙСКОЙ ОБЩЕСТВЕННОЙ ГЕОГРАФИИ: СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ВЫЗОВЫ И ОПЫТ ПРОШЛОГО

The problems of science and its development (including the identification of development determinants, possibilities, and priorities) appear to be particularly significant in modern Russia. The specific features of Russian space (characterized by vastness, heterogeneity, and non-static character) predetermine a permanent objective demand for diversified geographical knowledge, including its socio-economic (human) component. The article aims to identify challenges and problematic situations that came to face the community of Russian geographers-social scientists in the spring of 2022 (in theoretical and conceptual, scientific and applied, educational and organizational aspects) as well as to analyze and assess the development potential of domestic socio-economic geography. This should be done based on the understanding of the experience and lessons of its ‘historical track,’ first of all, the evolution of ideas and approaches in the 20th century, a complicated period, characterized by numerous transformations, crises, and cataclysms. The information and factual scientific material presented in the article includes key publications of Russian economic geographers published in the period from the early 1920s to the mid-1990s in two leading high-status geographical periodicals, the oldest in Russia – Proceedings of the Russian Geographical Society and Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk. Seriya Geograficheskaya (Proceedings of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Geographical Series). Based on the analysis of these periodicals, it is established that reliance on the domestic economic and geographical intellectual and ‘behavioral’ heritage provides the professional research community with guidelines in solving most of the current and potential tasks facing it. The paper shows that the development of Russian human geography can be driven by a significant increase in its practical orientation, complemented by an emphasis on ‘Russia-centered’ research, while maintaining structural, thematic, and methodological pluralism of research works, as well as involvement in international collaborations.

“Understood mathematics” as a means of implementation concepts of cognitive technology in subject matter areas of socio-economic geography

“Understood mathematics” as a means of implementation concepts of cognitive technology in subject matter areas of socio-economic geography

The role and place of socio-economic geography in the formation of the personality of the modern pupil

The role and place of socio-economic geography in the formation of the personality of the modern pupil

Socioeconomic geography of climate change views in Europe

Climate change views have their socioeconomic foundations but also specific geographies. In merging these perspectives, this analysis uses ESS Round 8 data from 23 European countries to examine whether climate change scepticism and concern, pro-environmental personal norm and a willingness to engage in energy-saving behaviour exhibit, first, urban–rural and/or regional differences, and second, if these attitudes can be explained at individual level by socioeconomic position and wellbeing resources. We find that climate change scepticism and concern do exhibit urban–rural differences, where living in a country village is associated with greater climate scepticism and lower concern compared to living in a big city. Also, higher climate change concern and pro-environmental norms are associated with living in a region with constant population growth. These geographical differences are independent of individual-level socioeconomic attributes as well as one’s political orientation. Additionally, the results show that both climate change attitudes and reporting energy-saving behaviour are strongly stratified by level of education and reveal that those in lower income deciles feel less pro-environmental norm but nonetheless report greater engagement with energy-saving behaviour. In sum, the results highlight that climate change mitigation is not a uniform project either spatially or within certain socioeconomic strata. Hence, our results suggest that socioeconomic disadvantage (belonging to the lowest education and income levels) and spatial marginalisation (living in more rural surroundings and declining regions) should be better acknowledged when reworking climate change and environmental policies in the EU.

Economic-geographical assessment of the demographic situation and economic potential of the inter-capital Belarusian-Russian borderlands

Geographic research of the phenomenon of inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian border region is an actual research area problem for the socio-economic geography of Belarus and Russia. This is due to the objective need to develop mechanisms of overcoming the demographic and economic peripherality of the region and embedding regional economic systems of border regions into the system of local relations. The purpose of the research is to identify the current distinctive features of the demographic and economic development of the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian border region with the establishment of its niche from the point of the central-peripheral approach. During the analysis of the demographic situation of the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian borderlands, it was established that, generally, in 1999–2019, its main feature was peripherality with the three zones established – the central demographic periphery, the buffer demographic periphery and the demographic semi-periphery – with a predominance in the structure of the first zone. Geographically, the central periphery zone is formed mainly by the rural borderland areas. According to the results of the analysis of the industrial development level, it was discovered that the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian borderlands is characterised by a high degree of spatial inequality due to the development of large industrial centers around the existing periphery. This research had established a spatial differentiation of the transportation accessibility (by the connectivity of administrative centers of the borderlands) and the productivity of road transportation. The economicgeographical analysis of the foreign trade had revealed the diversity of directions and intensity of foreign goods trade between the Belarusian-Russian borderlands, mainly expressed in the predominance of the export-oriented regions with the per capita foreign trade turnover estimated at up to 2000 US dollars.

Emergence of Socio-economic Geography and Spatial Management as a Scientific Discipline in the New Classification of Science in Poland1

Abstract The aim of the article is to present the chronology of activities that led to the emergence of the discipline ‘socio-economic geography and spatial management’ in the new classification of science in Poland which has been in force since 2018. The path of emergence of the discussed discipline is analysed from the standpoint of one of the participants of this process. The article also presents positive and negative consequences of implementing this classification in the context of two different structural models of geography as a science. Among positive consequences one can mention (1) preservation of the name ‘geography’ on the list of scientific disciplines, and (2) a favourable formal and legal ‘empowerment’ of socio-economic geography in the system of the organisation and evaluation of science in Poland. Among the greatest threats one can see (1) a reduction in the importance of socio-economic geography in favour of spatial management, and (2) the organisational disintegration of some geographical communities, institutions and research units. However, there are also attempts at the reintegration of geography around two of its basic segments, i.e. physical geography and human geography. In the author's opinion, future activities should focus on the means to strengthen realistically (and not only declaratively) the position of the new discipline and its constituent subdisciplines against other scientific disciplines.

Territorial analysis of medical geographical conditions of Uzbekistan

• Maternal mortality in the Republic of Uzbekistan is relatively high. It is necessary to further strengthen medical supervision among women. • The incidence of tuberculosis in the population of Republic of Uzbekistan is growing. Appropriate practical measures are required to improve the epidemiological situation. • In the regions, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, congenital defects, blood and blood-forming organs are on the rise. It is necessary to improve the existing nosogeographic situation, improve the sanitary and hygienic condition of the premises. • In order to prevent brucellosis, it is expedient to carry out decontamination of foci of the disease in livestock areas, the establishment of sanitary protection zones. • It is necessary to focus on the role of medical geography in the system of geographical sciences. The relevance of this study lies in the fact that the UN program says about the elimination of epidemics by 2030, the elimination of epidemics of diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, as well as measures to combat hepatitis and other water-borne diseases. The purpose of this article is to analyze the medical geography of Uzbekistan and health problems. After covering the geographical features of morbidity and mortality in the country, the following conclusions were drawn. One of the achievements of the socio-demographic development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in recent years is the reduction in mortality in all age groups. During this time, the country's health care system was improved, attention was paid to the health of the population. Also, an increase in the number of young and middle-aged people in the population, a decrease in the birth rate has led to a decrease in infant mortality, maternal mortality and overall mortality. However, there are areas with higher rates (Tashkent, Tashkent and Andijan regions), which can be explained by their location at a transport hub and industrialization. The authors believe that the theoretical issues of medical geography, medico-geographical zoning and forecasting, the identification of nosogeographic regions and foci require further research in this area. In such studies, it is necessary to focus on the role of medical geography in the system of geographical sciences, which, in turn, refers to aspects of natural and socioeconomic geography and geoecology.

The Point Bonitation Method and Its Adaptation in Risk Studies: A Case Study in Sri Lanka's Cities in the Coastal Zone.

Article proposes using weighting method named the Point Bonitation Method, a popular interdisciplinary method, especially in the tourism and socio-economic geography, for giving optional direction to further researching tsunami risk. This method qualifies and quantifies those factors that lead to natural disasters so that it is possible to make comparisons with their roles in disaster areas. This case study in Sri Lanka shows a specific result that is quantification of vulnerability by regions and can be used and developed locally for disaster risk management and reduction. This paper presents discussion about other possible reasons of high risk in regions.

ИДЕИ Ю.Г. САУШКИНА О РАЗВИТИИ МОРСКОЙ СОСТАВЛЯЮЩЕЙ РОССИЙСКОЙ ОБЩЕСТВЕННОЙ ГЕОГРАФИИ

In the modern Russian socio-economic geography, the «maritime» and «seaside» problems occupy an increasingly important place. Its development significantly prolongs the multidimensional developments that took place in the USSR in the 70–80s of the last century, and is based on the theoretical, conceptual and analytical «reserves» created at that time. The article considers the contribution to the formation (and constitution) of general theoretical approaches in the economic and geographical research of the World Ocean by one of the leading theorists, methodologists of science – Professor Yu.G. Saushkin (1911–1982), who had the broadest research horizons, as well as the gift of professional foresight. It is shown that Yu.G. Saushkin not only consistently supported (and popularized) the «marine branch» of geographical science, but also generated important ideas for its progressive dynamics (including in the modern context): the «amphibian» of socio-economic geography, the need to abandon the largely artificial opposition of «land» and «ocean»; the expediency of further differentiation of science according to the subject-object principle, including the isolation of its «marine component»; the inevitability of further growth of the attractiveness of sea coasts for the population and economy, the special role of the largest seaports in this process; the priority of integrated use of the resources of the World Ocean (requiring the «greening» of research approaches, as well as the formation of their cultural aspect).

ЮЛИАН ГЛЕБОВИЧ САУШКИН: ТВОРЧЕСКОЕ НАСЛЕДИЕ И СОВРЕМЕННОСТЬ

The article analyzes the relevance of the publications of Professor Julian GlebovichSaushkin (1911– 1982) in the period from 2000 to 2020 using the national bibliographic database of scientific citation RSCI. The analysis of the general publication activity was carried out, the author’s publications most in demand in the 21st century were identified, and their general characteristics were given. The most in demand are 46 works (45% of the author’s publications presented in the RSCI), which are cited 3 times or more, they account for 98% of the total number of citations. The maximum citation of Saushkin’s publications fell on 6 books (68%), including 5 of them – lifetime. The absolute leader in terms of citation is the fundamental, encyclopedic in content, book «Economic Geography: History, Theory, Methods, Practice», which has not been created in Russian socio-economic geography over the past half century. It was revealed that Yu.G. Saushkin, of course, remains a recognized authority among geographers, primarily in such sections as the history, methodology and theory of geography in general, and socio-economic geography in particular. New trends in geography, reflected in the author’s publications, are still relevant in the 21st century.

ДВАДЦАТЬ ЛЕТ ЖУРНАЛУ "РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ"

The article is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the publication of the scientific journal «Regional Research». The history of the journal’s creation is briefly considered, the main stages of its formation and development are highlighted. An analysis of a number of bibliometric indicators of the journal is given in comparison with other geographical periodicals. Thematic profiles of articles are analyzed. It is noted that at all stages of the journal’s development, the leading place among the directions was occupied by theoretical issues of socio-economic geography, social geography in general, as well as economic geography itself. political and recreational geography. Articles on regional economics and sociology also occupied an important place in the journal. The most cited authors and articles published in the journal over the past 20 years are highlighted.

Biogeographical and Altitudinal Distribution of Cataract: A Nine-Year Experience Using Electronic Medical Record-Driven Big Data Analytics in India

ABSTRACT Purpose: To use electronic medical record data to study the altitude, UV exposure, and biogeographical distribution of senile cataract in India. Methods: This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of patients over 40 years old with an ophthalmologist-confirmed diagnosis of senile cataract (cortical, nuclear, posterior subcapsular, or a combination) in either or both eyes. Electronic medical record data entered between August 2010 to December 2019 were extracted from a large multi-tiered ophthalmology network in India. Residential districts were classified into their respective biogeographical zone based on nationally reported boundaries, and altitude at the geographic centroid was determined using Google Earth. Occupations were classified as low UV exposure and high UV exposure. Descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and multiple logistic regression analysis were done. Results: In the 1,127,232 eligible patients, associations were found between high UV exposure (OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.45–1.49), low socioeconomic status (OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.52–1.55), rural geographies (OR = 1.32), female gender (OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.32–1.34), and older age (OR) with cataract. This Indian patient population did not demonstrate increased formation of cataracts at higher altitudes (OR). Patients residing in the Deccan Peninsula (OR) and those with high UV exposures within each increasing altitude category, except >750 m, (OR had higher odds of senile cataract comparatively. Conclusion: Female gender, occupations with high UV exposure, rural geography and increasing age were observed to have greater odds of developing senile cataract. Increased likelihood of cataracts in populations residing at low altitudes and within the Deccan Peninsula may be attributed to greater hospital development in those areas.