Socioeconomic Research Articles

EXAMINING THE CURRENT PRACTICE OF GOVERNANCE IN ZAKAT IN A MUSLIM MINORITY COUNTRY: THE CASE OF SRI LANKA

Zakat constitutes one of the pillars of Islam and religious practice in Islam aimed at supporting those in need. It also plays a major role in contributing to the socioeconomic development of society. To achieve efficient zakat management, institutions must focus on strong governance and proper management practices. This focus is essential due to the institution’s responsibility to manage effectively and provide transparent information to the public. Therefore, to meet stakeholder needs, non-profit organizations must prioritize governance. In Sri Lanka, the absence of specific laws or regulations governing zakat practice such as the Marriage and Divorce (Muslim) Act, the Muslim Intestate Succession Ordinance, and the Muslim Mosques and Charitable Trusts or Wakfs Act has led to a need for examination of current governance practices related to zakat collection and distribution. This study explores these practices and highlights how applying governance principles can help achieve the objectives (Maqasid) of zakat management in Sri Lanka. The research employs a doctrinal analysis of primary and secondary data, including statutes, practices, journals, and reports. Additionally, the study analyzes current zakat management practices through interviews with five respondents, including zakat practitioners and Shari’ah scholars, using thematic analysis. The findings reveal several issues: the causes of inefficient governance in zakat management, theoretical and practical problems with existing practices in Sri Lanka, gaps in the zakat governance framework, and conceptual and management deficiencies within zakat institutions. The study recommends developing a new governance framework for zakat management. This should include modern rules and practices based on Islamic law, staff training in fundamental Islamic knowledge, improved internal and external audit processes, and increased awareness among managers, donors, beneficiaries, and members of society.

Transforming Higher Education Towards Economic Development: A Zimbabwean Case Study

This study is a systematic review of research on higher education in Zimbabwe, in particular, it assesses the contribution of higher education towards engendering socio-economic development. This is achieved through identifying higher education activities prioritised in research during the study period which spans a three-year period from 2021 to 2023. This period comes just after the introduction of Education 5.0, which includes innovation and industrialisation. Furthermore, the articles are assessed on whether they address socio-economic development issues. A total of 41 abstracts of research articles were subjected to qualitative content analysis. The findings reveal five major activities that research has focussed on in priority order: teaching and learning; quality in education; management operations and policy; knowledge and research; and equity and equality. Furthermore, while the analysis indicates that the prioritised activities contribute towards socio-economic development, the nuances of balancing political, individual and epistemic priorities affecting higher education institutions are brought to the fore. The identified activities underscore the need for interventions at national, institutional, departmental and individual lecturer levels. However, there are concerns about the de-prioritisation of gender equality and equity in higher learning institutions in Zimbabwe. In conclusion, the research topics not only highlight the complexities and the dynamics faced by higher education institutions in Zimbabwe in playing their expected role of contributing to socio-economic development but also the need to foreground specificity to allow for the identification of effective interventions and processes required to support higher education’s goal of contributing towards economic growth. The study further concludes that the neglect of equity and equality issues may be detrimental to educational outcomes geared towards economic growth.

Allocating quotas for industrial carbon emissions fairly and efficiently to achieve “peak carbon”: A case of the yellow river basin in China

The “peak carbon” target has triggered wide-ranging and profound systemic changes and transformations that have left the provinces along the basin facing the dual dilemma of implementing carbon reduction actions and socioeconomic development. The allocation of carbon emission quotas is a fundamental task that reflects the division of labour and collaboration within a river basin to achieve the “peak carbon” target. Therefore, the fair and efficient allocation of industrial carbon emission quotas is the key to the implementation of carbon emissions trading and the establishment of carbon offset mechanisms. In the study, based on the description of the spatial and temporal evolution of the industrial carbon footprint and its carrying capacity, the industrial carbon offset area and industrial carbon reimbursement area are divided. Moreover, the allocation method of industrial carbon emission quotas is proposed by accounting for the principles of fairness, efficiency, and sustainability, and is verified using the provinces along the Yellow River Basin in China as a case. The results show that the industrial carbon carrying capacity is “unbalanced”. The provinces with strong carrying capacity are in the middle and upper reaches, and provinces with weak carrying capacity are in the middle and lower reaches. Moreover, the industrial carbon offset in the basin as a whole is higher than the industrial carbon compensation, which is potentially conducive to the implementation of cross-basin carbon offset. The weights of the equity, efficiency and sustainability indicators are 0.46, 0.23 and 0.31, respectively. The two industrial carbon compensated provinces can transfer the surplus industrial carbon emission quotas to the two industrial carbon offset provinces after obtaining the corresponding financial compensation. The Gini coefficient is 0.26, which is relatively fair. The study not only reveals the mechanism of the relationship among industrial carbon carrying capacity, carbon emission quota and carbon offset, but also provides a scientific basis for the establishment of a carbon emission quota trading market and the strengthening of the inter-provincial coordinated emission reduction incentives in the basin.

Communication dynamics: Fintech’s role in promoting sustainable cashless transactions

The integration of Fintech is revolutionizing global financial engagement, moving away from traditional payment systems. This study, thus, explores the interaction between communication dynamics, Fintech use, intentions, cashless transactions adoption, financial literacy, personal innovativeness, and socioeconomic development in Pakistan. The study employs a dual methodology, encompassing “PLS-SEM and Probit Model alongside Propensity Score Matching technique.” The survey targeted small business owners and individuals involved in informal sectors, encompassing roles such as fruit and vegetable vendors, small shop owners, taxi drivers, and auto rickshaw operators. A total of 394 responses were analyzed. The findings highlight the facilitating role of individuals’ intentions to use cashless transactions, acting as a mediator through which Fintech use fosters actual behavior. Moreover, the study finds financial literacy and personal innovativeness as critical moderating factors. Adopting cashless transactions emerges as a pathway to enhanced financial inclusion, particularly impactful for small business owners. The achieved financial inclusion has the potential for profound financial inclusion implications, as evidenced by its positive effects on sustainable livelihoods, living conditions, and social development among small business owners and individuals operating within the informal sector.

AFROCENTRIC PEDAGOGY APPROACH IN THE CURRICULUM OF EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM RENEWAL IN AFRICA: A CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize in greater detail the educational system approach that is being imposed into African countries, South Africa as a case in point. Over the past years, Sub-Saharan countries have and still experience indoctrinated educational system in which the content is mimicked from purported hegemonic states such UK, USA and other western counties inter alia. The problem of education retrogrades from the prior independence of African countries in the early 1960s wherein, the colonial masters organized and silently played a crucial role in shaping the formation of education in Africa; and not much has changed in terms of education since then. A particular concern is that the system of education might have designed to impoverish African people and perpetuate dependency to the western nations. Hence, at the core center of the educational system is the curriculum which seem to be inevitable and requires an alteration, particularly in South Africa. Therefore, the outlook of this paper is to critique and interrogate the system of education in South Africa looking at the socio-economic development and a continuous alteration in respect of the curriculum. The paper shows that for the realization of African renaissance, ideals of Africa Agenda 2063 and accelerated development, the system of education must be transformed and be Africanized to benefit the people of Africa. The paper uses literature-based approach as a methodological framework in order to analyze the status quo of education in South Africa. The paper concludes and recommends that the transformation of current educational system requires an alteration to the inclusive of indigenous knowledge to vigorously respond to socio-economic woes in Africa. Furthermore, the paper advocates for indigenous knowledge consideration in the incessant curriculum renewal.

LAND REFORM POLICY FORMULATION IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

Intense ideological and political standoffs persist over land and agrarian reform in former settler countries where land access, ownership, and utilisation wield enormous socio-economic and political implications. Focusing on South Africa (SA) and Zimbabwe, this article contributes to the ongoing debate on land reform. Drawing on qualitative secondary literature review and abstraction, this article identifies land reform policy evolution in SA and Zimbabwe and explores the implications of land reform policy on socio-economic and political development. The article shows that since colonial times, asymmetrical land access, ownership, utilisation, and widespread land expropriation by settlers have been the major source of political instability, landlessness, rural poverty, high population densities, and poor land management in SA and Zimbabwe. The article argues for the need for theoretically and conceptually mature land reform debates located within the broad framework of trajectories of transformation, not only economic but also structural.

Contribution of provisioning ecosystem services of homestead trees to rural livelihoods in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Aim: To quantify provisioning ecosystem services (PES) derived from homestead trees, estimate their economic value and contribution to rural livelihoods, and ascertain socio-economic determinants of household PES income from homestead trees in district Budgam of Kashmir. Methodology: In this study 106 homesteads were selected across 12 sample villages using multi-stage random sampling. Data were gathered through structured interviews, focus group discussions, homestead inventories, non-participant observations, and rapid market assessments. The data were analyzed through descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The mean value of PES of homestead trees was ₹ 14349.27 per household per year, which was composed of fruits (45.54%), fuel wood (20.50%), tree browse (18.15%), timber (8.06%), and wicker (7.75%). PES of homestead trees constituted 4th important component of rural economy, accounting 16.23% of the average household's income. ANCOVA indicated that social membership, family size, family labour, farm size, livestock holding, main occupation, wealth status and annual income were potent predictors of household PES income from homestead trees. The R2 (0.872) of the ANCOVA model indicated that socio-economic determinants accounted for 87.20% of the variation in homestead trees' domestic PES revenue. Interpretation: Findings suggested that PES income from homestead trees is a vital intervention for socio-economic development, livelihood diversification, and forest conservation; hence, policy must be implicated towards a sustainable supply of PES from homestead trees by promoting homestead tree holdings. Key words: Homestead trees, Kashmir Himalaya, Livelihood, Provisioning ecosystem services

Instrument of the Legal Mechanism of Tax Revenues to the State Budget

The article presents the economic essence of the state budget of the country as an instrument of the legal mechanism of tax revenues, which allows the state to influence consumption, investment and export, as well as redistribute budget funds in favor of the neediest sectors of the economy. The authors define the instruments of public administration as an integral part of economic regulation of the socio-economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the main areas of use of public financial resources, financing methods and the main sources of replenishment of the treasury. The source of the study was the works of scientists considering issues of the state budget. A set of research methods with an emphasis on theoretical and practical methods was used.

Socio-economic development of rural areas of the Krasnoyarsk Krai: Rating of municipal districts

Socio-economic development of rural areas of the Krasnoyarsk Krai: Rating of municipal districts

Adolescent mental health services in West Africa: a comparative analysis of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger

BackgroundAdolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical issue worldwide, particularly in West Africa, where it is intensified by socio-economic, cultural, and security challenges. Insecurity and the presence of mining sites expose adolescents to hazardous environments, substance abuse, and adulterated alcohol, further aggravating their mental health. Despite these severe issues, research on AMH in this region remains limited. This study aims to analyze the provision of AMH services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger, highlighting the unique challenges these countries face within the broader West African healthcare context.MethodsThe study adopted a multi-stage, stratified sampling design to collect data from primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the three countries. Using STATA.17, Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to availability of AMH services, types of mental health disorders treated, resources available, and OPD attendance rates. The analysis also incorporated factors such as the rural-urban divide and the presence of national guidelines for AMH services.ResultsThe findings reveal a significant shortfall in the provision of AMH services across the region, with less than 30% of PHCs across all the countries offering these services. The study also highlights a pronounced rural-urban disparity in AMH service availability, a general absence of national guidelines for AMH care, and low OPD attendance rates.ConclusionThe study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform and targeted interventions to enhance AMH services in West Africa. Key policy reforms should include the development and implementation of national guidelines for AMH care and integration of AMH services into primary healthcare. Additionally, efforts should focus on capacity building through the training of mental health professionals, increasing public awareness to reduce stigma, and ensuring equitable resource allocation across rural and urban areas. Improving AMH care is essential not only for the well-being of adolescents but also for driving broader socio-economic development in the region.

Promising Directions of Economic Development of Rural Areas: The Case of the Republic of Crimea

Introduction. Rural areas represent significant strategic potential for the socio-economic development of the country. In recent years, the role of the state in planning territorial development has increased significantly. This is due to successful experience in designing territorial and sectoral development in difficult periods of macroeconomic and geopolitical crises, financing and monitoring infrastructure projects that are important for the economy and society. The subject of the study are rural areas localized in the space of one of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which recently became part of the state – the Republic of Crimea. The purpose of the article is to substantiate promising directions for the economic development of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea based on the construction of a structural and sectoral profile. Materials and Methods. The research materials were the scientific results of leading scientists studying the problems of the economy of rural areas, structural and sectoral transformations on a regional and municipal levels. The information base of the study was made up of official statistical data of Rosstat and Crimea, official websites of governmental bodies of the Russian Federation, and archival materials. The research was conducted using content analysis of scientific literature, retrospective and structural analysis. Results. Structural and sectoral profiles of the economy of rural areas of the Republic of Crimea for 2017 and 2022 were developed, which allowed to prove the presence of processes of structural and sectoral changes, identify key factors and justify promising directions for further development. The authors prove that against the background of ongoing changes in the economic space of rural areas of Crimea, the dominance of agricultural production based on the use of unique natural factors, resources and conditions (climate, soil fertility, availability of centuries-old technologies for growing agricultural products, etc) remains. Discussion and Conclusion. The decrease in the share of agricultural production in the sectoral structure of the economy of rural territories (municipalities) of the Republic of Crimea is the most significant for the period 2017–2022, which is primarily due to the following factors: strengthening of transport, logistics and recreational and resort functions of the region, development of other types of material production. Analysis of the structural and sectoral profile proves the sustainability of the development of rural municipalities of the Republic of Crimea, due to the focus on the needs of both visitors and local population. It is advisable to use the research results in the development of strategies, plans, projects for the socio-economic development of rural territories, municipalities and regions.

Reading Comprehension of Learners in a Last-Mile School

Analyzing student’s reading comprehension at a last-mile school can reveal valuable insights into a range of educational and socio-economic development. It is along this premise that this paper aimed to determine the level of Reading Comprehension of Learners in a last-mile school in a fourth-class municipality in Negros Occidental during the School Year 2023-2024 as the basis for a contextualized instructional plan. Data needed for this descriptive study was collected from 119 respondents using a 40-item self-made data-gathering instrument that has passed the rigorous tests of validity and reliability. The ensuing analysis showed that learners’ reading comprehension in a last-mile school was average. In literal, inferential, and applied comprehension, learners were found to be at the average level but at a low level around appreciative comprehension. The result calls for the teachers to create and craft more engaging learning and reading materials that suit the background and interests of learners to encourage them to read more and hone their reading skills. They also need to make sure that despite the distance of where the school is located, learners receive quality instructional material. Keywords: Language Education, Literal, Inferential, Applied, Appreciative Level of Reading Comprehension, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Spatio-Temporal Variations of Soil Conservation Service Supply–Demand Balance in the Qinling Mountains, China

The ecological conservation of nature reserves has garnered considerable attention and is subject to stringent management in China. However, the majority of these areas have a history of underdeveloped economies and require urgent improvements in the well-being of local communities. Effectively coupling and harmonizing the dynamic relationship between ecosystem services and socio-economic development has emerged as a crucial concern for nature reserves. Therefore, further exploration is needed to achieve a spatio-temporal balance and alignment between the supply and demand of ESs in nature reserves in China. Utilizing multiple datasets, RULSE, and bivariate autocorrelation methods, this study investigated the spatio-temporal evolution of the ecosystem services supply–demand ratio (ESDR) and supply–demand spatial matches for soil conservation services (SCSs) in the Qinling Mountains (QMs) from 2000 to 2020. The results indicated the following: (1) Over the years, the supply of SCSs exhibited a consistently high level, with an upward trend observed in 63.10% of the QMs, while the demand for SCSs is generally low, with a decreasing trend observed in 82.68% of the QMs. (2) The supply and demand of SCSs remained favorable, with a positive ESDR reaching 82.19% of the QMs. From 2000 to 2010, there was a significant decline in ESDR; however, a substantial rebound was observed in the ESDR across the region from 2010 to 2020. (3) Over years, the majority of counties and districts exhibited positive values in ESDR. When examining cities, Weinan, Xi’an, and Ankang demonstrated relatively consistent patterns with higher ESDR values over time. In 2000, the ESDR on the northern slope exhibited lower values than that on the southern slope; however, this situation subsequently underwent a reversal. (4) The spatial distribution of SCS supply and demand was predominantly characterized by matching regions exhibiting either High Supply–High Demand or Low Supply–Low Demand for years. This study suggests that the supply and demand dynamics of SCSs in the Qinling Mountains have been favorable in recent years, with consistent spatial supply–demand matches. These findings can provide valuable insights for similar nature reserves aiming to implement ecological environmental protection and achieve sustainable development. The future research endeavors, however, should strive to expand upon these findings by exploring the supply and demand patterns associated with other ESs across diverse nature reserves, while considering their unique geographical characteristics, in order to promote more rational ecological management strategies.

Development of the Social Environment and Economic Activity in the Subjects of the Russian Federation

Russian scientific publications regularly publish materials, the authors of which explore the differences in the levels of socio-economic development of Russian regions. The problem is considered in various aspects, including from the point of view of determining the ability of regional economies to meet the needs of the population living within the borders of the subjects of the Russian Federation. The article presents the results of the rating of the subjects of the Russian Federation for 2019–2023 on the basis of the author’s methodology. With minor changes to the methodology, she continues a series of previously published papers. It is shown that during 2019–2023, for most subjects of the Russian Federation, there was an unstable trend in all three key components of the final index (social, economic, budgetary). There is no pronounced connection between the dynamics of the indicator of the Social Block and the degree of economic activity in the region. The vast majority of regions as a whole successfully overcame the crisis recessions of 2020 and 2022, but in 19 subjects of the Russian Federation the precarious values of the final index were not exceeded in 2023. The drop in the indices of the Social Block in 2020 was less significant than after the start of the support for the social sphere during the pandemic. In 2023, for most subjects of the Russian Federation, there was an upward trend in the Final Index and overcoming the recession associated with sanctions pressure. The response of the regions to this crisis varied, which was reflected in the different dynamics of all three components of the final index (Social, Economic and Budgetary blocks). A pronounced and growing dependence of the dynamics of the Social Block on federal transfers is shown both for regions with a downward trend in the index of the Economic block and for regions with an increase in economic activity.

Changing values of work (based on the materials from Russian and foreign publications)

The sphere of work, which was previously central to Soviet and Russian sociology constantly covered in the Sociological Studies journal, is no longer so, although work remains an important subject of research in the conditions of the challenging digital transformation and growing uncertainty. Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign publications, the authors tried to identify current trends in the development of research that reflect global and regional changes in labor. Solving this problem allows the authors to show which problems attract the prime attention of scientists from different countries, and define the prospects for the future research. The authors show the discussion conducted by researchers on the topic of changing labor values. Particular attention is paid to how precarization is analyzed and the growth of the “meaninglessness” of labor is argued. A significant similarity of the identified problems in Russia and foreign countries is emphasized, regardless of the fact that they belong to different levels of socio-economic development, differ in work culture and other characteristics.

Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Agricultural Machinery Purchase Subsidy Policy for Poverty Alleviation in Guizhou, China

Southwest China's weak economic development has been the focus of China's rural revitalization strategy; exploring the impact of implementing an agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy can impetus the economic development of Southwest China. Since its introduction in 2004, the policy of subsidizing the purchase of agricultural machinery has been mainly used to support the purchase of advanced and applicable agricultural machinery. The implementation of this policy has promoted China's socioeconomic development and, until now, has been an indispensable supportive policy in the rural revitalization strategy. As the province with the most poverty-reducing people in the country, Guizhou's achievements cannot be attributed to the conscientious implementation of the central government's decisions and deployments. However, Guizhou's practice of subsidizing the purchase of agricultural machinery also requires improvement. The Smith Model is the theoretical framework for this research. This paper lists the problem Guizhou's agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy needs to fix with stakeholder analysis. It then uses the Smith Model to look into the reasons for the "irrational agricultural machinery structure" gap in Guizhou's application of the agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy and makes suggestions for how to make things better. This study's main contribution is to enrich existing literature by analyzing Guizhou's policy implication in addressing the problem of insufficient production of agricultural machinery and providing a direction for the future implementation of Guizhou's agricultural machinery purchase subsidy policy.

Sociological monitoring of student youth involvement in regional socio-economic development processes in modern Russian society

Student youth is the most creatively active, creative, able to put forward new ideas and implement promising projects social-demographic group of the population of the country and the region. In this regard, the student youth role in the processes of socio-economic development of the region and the country as a whole is key. At the same time, this socio-demographic group requires development and implementation of a clear, systematic, and effective policy in the field of education, culture, socio-economic and professional development, as well as mechanisms of involvement in the processes of regional socio-economic development in order to preserve and further develop human capital. The results of the sociological survey of students of Russian universities and colleges (N = 1.560 thousand people) from all federal districts conducted in 2023 have been presented. According to the sociological monitoring results, it has been revealed that a significant part of students is not purposefully interested in and does not track information about the activities of public authorities and is not involved in the processes of regional socio-economic development. The level of awareness and interaction of student youth with regional youth organizations is low. More than a third of students are not properly informed about the activities of these organizations, and their involvement is no more than 11 %. In order to increase the level of student youth involvement in the processes of regional socio-economic development in modern Russian society, the authors have developed methodological recommendations for engaging activities implementation.

Integration of renewable energy and socioeconomic development for environmental sustainability in Africa: An empirical analysis

As Africa grapples with the challenges of energy access, economic growth, urbanization and industrialization, as well as the environmental degradation, the adoption of renewable energy technologies emerges as a promising solution. Therefore, this article examines the effects of socioeconomic growth and renewable energy integration on environmental sustainability in 32 African countries using the auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, nonlinear ARDL (NARDL) model, and Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality. The findings demonstrate that urbanization, industrialization, and economic growth all contribute to environmental deterioration. The ARDL model estimation shows that for every 1% increase in economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, there will be a 1% rise in CO2, respectively. Similarly, the results indicate that an additional 1% in economic growth and industrialization is expected to result in a 0.14% and 0.02% increase in ecological footprint, respectively. The NARDL model shows that industrialization significantly contribute into the CO2 increase, while renewable energy consumption decreases ecological footprint. Moreover, the causality test revealed the bidirectional causality between industrialization and CO2, and urbanization and ecological footprint. Renewable energy consumption in both models showed the potential to enhance environmental quality, underscoring the significance of integrating renewable energy with socioeconomic development to support sustainable development.

Representation of Women and Class in Shakespeare’s <i>Othello</i>

Shakespeare’s plays reflect his society by imitating events that shaped the socio-economic, historical and political development of the Elizabethan era. This study examines the representation of women and class in the tragic play; Othello. Shakespeare juxtaposes male and female characters to understand their roles seeking to understand the complexities that shapes gender and class in society. He lived in a patriarchal society where women were subjugated, relegated, and oppressed. They were only good as daughters or wives; Shakespeare in some of his plays creates strong female characters that exhibit a new perspective in the representation of women who break away from the norm by their actions or inactions in Elizabethan England. The theory used for the analysis is New Historicism which seeks to reveal and challenge the depiction of women and class during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the first. New historicism is a practice of interpreting texts in their historical context or concerning the time and place in which they were written according to Greenblatt. Women and class have often been misrepresented in Shakespeare’s time but in his play Othello, they are found to break down the shackles of patriarchy to make choices and stand by it.

Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation: Old Problems, New Solutions

The current Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025 has not solved a number of tasks in this area. The level of differentiation of the socio-economic development of the subjects of the Russian Federation, their budgetary and infrastructural security remains high. Citizens have not been provided with equal access to State-guaranteed services. The current mechanisms for the allocation of productive forces and the resettlement of the population are often non-systemic in nature. In addition, the external and internal conditions for the development of the country's economy and social sphere have changed significantly by now. The Russian Federation includes 4 new regions. The concentration of population and infrastructure facilities in the largest urban agglomerations hinders the overcoming of regional imbalances. The task of ensuring the unity of the legal, economic, financial, social, cultural and educational space remains urgent. The issue of the ongoing population decline in the territories of the North, Siberia and the Far East, as well as the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, is acute. Insufficient development of transport and energy infrastructure limits the potential of the regions, hinders the solution of tasks to increase the connectivity of the country's territory. In this regard, the task of smoothing out interregional imbalances by maximizing the full disclosure of the regions and municipalities’ own potential, and creating a comfortable living environment for citizens throughout the country is of strategic importance. This is the aim of the draft Strategy of spatial Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 with a forecast up to 2036. The article attempts to answer the question: how much is the new version of the Strategy able to solve the accumulated problems in this area?