Development Of Towns Research Articles

The influx of youth as an effect of the new town development policy through relocation of public institutions: focusing on differences between large and medium/small-city location types

ABSTRACT The study focus was the influx of youth as an effect of the new town development policy through relocation of public institutions. We also examined differences according to location type (large and medium/small cities). In addition, we classified the effects of the influx of youth into the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), non-Seoul Metropolitan Area (non-SMA), the surrounding area (SA), and non-surrounding area (non-SA). We conducted the analysis using the propensity score matching and difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) model. Study findings indicated that the new town development policy through relocation of public institutions had a positive effect, fostering an influx of youth. However, the effects of the influx of youth differed by location type (i.e. large and medium/small cities). Specifically, the effects of the influx of youth from the SMA were positive for both location types, but the effects from the non-SMA were statistically significant only for medium/small cities. In addition, we found positive effects on the youth influx from both the SA and non-SA regions in medium/small cities. This study can help policymakers and planners consider location types when developing strategies to activate a youth influx through the relocation of public institutions.

Evaluating transit-oriented new town development: Insights from Seoul and Tokyo

This study evaluates 7Ds (density, diversity, design, distance to transit, destination accessibility, demand management, and demography) from a transit-oriented development (TOD) perspective for four large-scale new towns (NTs) in the suburban areas of Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan. The analysis revealed variations in self-sufficiency and travel behavior based on these differences, leading to four main policy implications. First, Seoul’s NTs demonstrated high-density mixed-use development, promoting localized short-distance travel within these areas. This highlights the importance of encouraging high-density mixed-use development to foster commuting self-sufficiency. Second, Tokyo’s NTs feature housing development centered on rail transit, resulting in a greater utilization of rail transit modes. This emphasizes the positive impact of rail-transit-oriented development on sustainable mode choice. Third, demand management strategies such as firm-based subsidies and an integrated transit system were identified in the Tokyo and Seoul NTs, respectively. These strategies aimed to provide incentives for choosing public transit over private cars. Additionally, it is crucial to consider the relationship between NTs and their neighboring areas to prevent wasteful commuting resulting from continuous decentralization trends in jobs and housing. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and planners by highlighting the significance of integrating TOD principles into NT planning and development.

Assessment of opportunities for socio-economic sustainable development of small towns in Jambyl oblast

Achieving sustainable development of small towns as a special system is directly related, first of all, to maintaining socio-economic stability and creating a favourable environment for human life. Indeed, as a basis for the sustainability of small towns, the development of services, effective utilisation of local characteristics and diversification of socio-economic spheres are very important. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the possibilities of socio-economic sustainable development of small towns in Zhambyl region. The study consisted of two stages: at the first stage a systematic analysis of statistical indicators of socio-economic development of Zhambyl region was conducted, the dynamics of sustainable development was assessed, at the second stage a survey was conducted and the information necessary for analysis was collected. The survey was conducted in the cities of Zhanatas, Karatau and Shu, which have the status of small towns in Zhambyl region. As a result of the survey, positive dynamics was noted for all indicators of socio-economic development of Zhambyl region. The volume of production in the region's manufacturing industry totalled 521.7 billion tenge, with a physical volume index of 111.1% compared to 2022. At the same time, the production of food products increased by 17.8%, chemical industry - by 5.5%, oil products - by 19.6%, finished metal products - by 31.9%, machine building - by 7.7%. However, according to the results of a survey conducted in the small towns of Zhanatas, Karatau and Shu, it became known that 31 per cent of respondents earn within 100-200 thousand tenge and 28 per cent within 60-100 thousand tenge. In addition, 66% of residents of small towns ask to increase the number of new jobs. Thus, the study revealed the need to modernise the socio-economic plan for sustainable development of small towns in Zhambyl region, the need to diversify the economy and improve the effective use of the environment.

Факторы изменения социально-экономического положения малых городов российско-белорусского приграничья

Small towns remain an important element of the settlement framework in the Russian Federation. Socio-economic status, settlement functions and motives of residents determine the prospects for the development or degradation of small towns. The article aims to classify existing and identify new factors in the socio-economic development of small border towns. The paper examined and analysed a set of Russian and foreign publications, as well as collected statistics from small towns in the Russian-Belarusian border area. A scientific hypothesis about the influence of border factors and interstate integration on socio-economic changes in small towns of the Russian-Belarusian border area was tested. As a result, new functions and socio-economic factors of small border towns were identified. The border position of a small town can be a development factor if the barrier of the interstate border remains. It was established that the population decline in small towns of the Russian-Belarusian border area is greater in comparison with its regional indicators and large cities. Investments in fixed capital per capita during the analysed period, with rare exceptions, do not exceed 50 % of the region’s value. However, the number of square metres of housing per capita in small towns is higher than the regional average. A proposed supranational strategy for the development of the Russian-Belarusian border area will help stimulate the economy of small towns and improve the quality of life of the population. When strategically planning the development of small towns in the Russian-Belarusian border area, it is necessary to determine their economic functions, define a specialisation to emphasise their identity and use competitive advantages in the struggle for resources with larger agglomerations.

Commuting paradox of the technopole Newtown: A case study in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

This study examines the relationship between different types of new town development and their impact on commuting patterns. It provides an empirical analysis of how development in Technopole Newtown and Residential Newtown influences commuting time and distance. Technopole Newtown is characterized by a blend of technological institutional clusters and residential development, while Residential Newtown primarily emphasizes residential development. Seoul Metropolitan Area was chosen as the case study, with data sourced from the Household Travel Survey. This study reveals a surprising commuting paradox in Technopole Newtown, where the plan was to blend job opportunities with residential development. The findings indicate that commuters did not benefit. Instead, they endured longer commutes in both time and distance compared to those in Residential Newtown, which is typically characterized as a bedroom community. The integration of job opportunities for the development of new towns should be considered a crucial factor in creating urban sustainability in the future.

ОЦЕНКА СОВРЕМЕННОГО СОСТОЯНИЯ РАСТИТЕЛЬНОГО ПОКРОВА Г. ОБЛУЧЬЕ ПО МУЛЬТИСПЕКТРАЛЬНЫМ ДАННЫМ

A sustainable development of regional towns and small settlements demands the urban modern landscape infrastructure study and assessment. For this purpose, geoinformation systems and remote sensing data are widespread used. The aim of the study was to analyze the green spaces in the small town of Obluchye (Jewish Autonomous region) using multispectral data with an assessment of indicators of the town sustainable development. The sources of information were as follows: Sentinel-2A multispectral products, the Rules of land use and development for Obluchye, field research materials, ICARP FEB RAS stock materials, special literature. The identification and analysis of green spaces distribution in Obluchye are based on calculation results of the normalized vegetation index (NDVI). It is stated that the NDVI value of 0.55 or more is the boundary value for the allocation of green spaces in Obluchye; 0.75 or more - for woody vegetation. The NDVI boundary value of 0.55...0.74 is for herbaceous and shrubby vegetation on lawns, unsettled areas, as well as for natural and produced meadows. The NDVI values of 0.75 or more in the image determine the forest vegetation of the Obluchye recreation zone, tree and shrub thickets along riverbeds and floodplain forests, and woodlands in the town built-up zone. The green spaces distribution across the town functional zones is uneven. The high and very high landscaping areas are characteristic of the Obluchye periphery and correspond to the zones of recreational and residential development. In most cases, tree plantations are located in a recreational area, mainly outside the town. However, all urban development zones have high values of landscaping average level (from 71 to 93%). The calculated indicators of sustainable development in Obluchye show, on the one hand, a significant exceeding level of landscaping (53%), as compared to the established norms (at least 40%). On the other hand, the share of green areas of common use in the total area of green spaces in Obluchye is very low – only 1.6%. Thus, there is a need in a qualitative improvement of green infrastructure in the town of Obluchye.

Challenging the myth of women's empowerment: Mining development and commercial sex in a Zambian town

Commercial sex and mining have long been interwoven. With the spread of neoliberal capitalism, social relations around the mine site have become increasingly commodified. This ethnographic study examines the experiences of female sex workers in the mining town of Solwezi, Zambia. Women's stories offer insight into the lives of those excluded from the conventional women's economic empowerment narrative that has been widely adopted by the mining industry and what this means for their wellbeing and health. Despite the rhetoric, economic empowerment is not easily attained and women often remain heavily reliant on mine workers given limited and unequal opportunities within the labour market. In Solwezi, women who have been abandoned by a mine-working husband may find that sex work is the one opportunity available to them. Alternatively, women have migrated from across the country to participate in commercial sex work in Solwezi. Men, especially mine workers with twice-monthly pay cheques, have become a sought-after commodity, by both sex workers and wives. This has increased their power in their relationships, entrenches inequality, and increases the potential for abuse in these relationships. Despite these dynamics, sex working women continue to be neglected in Solwezi and by the broader development community. When they are considered, generally attention is directed towards HIV prevention. These interventions fail to consider the complex social, political, and economic context that can affect women's living and working conditions.

How to recognize the threat of social energy exclusion? Demographic and settlement determinants of distributed energy development in Polish towns and cities

How to recognize the threat of social energy exclusion? Demographic and settlement determinants of distributed energy development in Polish towns and cities

Spatial changes in Royal Malay Town: The Inheritance of ‘Kota’ for Sustainability of Urban Conservation Practices

The continuous degradation of historical urban fabric in traditional towns has hindered efforts to implement sustainable urban conservation practices. Considering the dynamic and complexities of urban areas, which encompass multiple relationships to geographical settings, functional economic and socio-cultural factors, understanding the contextual formation and growth therefore becomes an important consideration in any development project. However, analysing the evolutionary process requires systematic structuring at each hierarchical scale, temporal dimension and level of morphological elements. Thus, posing a significant challenge in extracting the organic growth development of traditional towns. This study attempts to develop a methodological framework for integrated urban morphological analysis that guides the analytical process of spatial changes in Royal Malay town. A case study at Old Town Centre of Kota Bharu, Kelantan was conducted with an emphasis on structuring the case and plan- unit analysis based on diachronic and synchronic comparisons. The findings unveiled the inherent morphogenetic characteristics of Royal Malay towns central to the spatial structure of Kota, which demarcate the fixation line of the growth process and imperative to the functioning system for spatial resilience. This implies that developing a systematic methodological and mapping analysis process aids in providing a clear and responsive strategy in managing rapid spatial transition. This study brings forward the bridging of multidisciplinary knowledge on urban history, geography, design, planning and management to assist in the formulation of comprehensive development guidelines and policies that emphasize an explicit morphological perspective.

The Influence of Geographical Space on the Development of Middle-Aged Towns in the Province of the Southern Kazakhstan

The Influence of Geographical Space on the Development of Middle-Aged Towns in the Province of the Southern Kazakhstan

ESG factors of city-forming enterprises and the growth of single-industry towns in Russia

In research, the influence of city-forming enterprises on the single-industry town’s development is considered from the perspective of ESG-parameters of their activities. In the development of the researches of previous authors, the article presents a conceptual model of the influence of city-forming enterprise ESG-indicators on the socio-economic development of a single-industry town, including three types of indicators. If the social aspects of the organization activities are carried out at a city-forming enterprise, this contributes to increase the attractiveness of the labor market in the city and expanding the human potential of the city as a whole. When performing the G-component of organizing the city-forming enterprise activities this contributes not only to attracting investors, but also expanding the practice of co-production public goods in the city, due to the combined efforts of the city-forming enterprise, local governments and external investors. In the article application of ESG-indicators in non-financial reporting of large Russian city-forming enterprises. The authors found public non-financial reports (with ESG-reporting) only in 45 % of Russian city-forming enterprises. The non-financial reports of 30 city-forming enterprises from 19 regions of Russia were studied more detailed. What indicator: economic, social or corporate are presented in them. The authors concluded that the city-forming enterprises demonstrate mainly managerial indicators, the dynamics of staff turnover and responsibility in waste management. Indicators of the environmental, social and managerial components are not always presented in a sufficiently diverse way but one group of indicators may be present, or such indicators are used that do not reflect the initial value of ESG-monitoring. To overcome these imperfections, the article also presents some recommendations for the development of this practice.

Краевые архивные источники по истории молодого города на примере Дивногорска Красноярского края

The article presents a review of the corpus of documents of the State Archive of Krasnoyarsk Krai, related to the history of Divnogorsk. The town was founded by the authorities as a settlement serving the Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric power station in 1963. Divnogorsk is one of the many young industrialised small towns which appeared in the USSR during the next round of industrial modernisation. Its peculiarity is the close connection to the regional centre. Divnogorsk is a part of Krasnoyarsk agglomeration. Due to the high role of the town in the economic plans and projects of the Krasnoyarsk region development, its history is reflected not only in the town archive, but also in the documents of the regional archive collection to a great extent. A considerable part of them has not yet been put into scientific circulation. The corpus of documents related to Divnogorsk is quite complicated and chaotic. It is represented by neither one fund in particular but scattered over many others. All the materials about the town can be divided into two groups. Firstly, these are funds entirely dedicated to and related to Divnogorsk and businesses located there. These are mainly collections of party and Soviet organizations of Divnogorsk. Due to the fact that the town was a relatively small settlement, these materials reflect data on various aspects of life and development of small industrial town in Siberia. This group includes the fonds of the Divnogorsk town committee of the Communist Party of the RSFSR, primary party organizations of the CPSU institutions in Divnogorsk (the town's building and transport departments, the executive committee of the town council, the town committee, the low voltage plant, the housing and utilities office, the court and prosecutor's offices, and educational institutions); the fonds of the town's Komsomol organizations, and state and party control agencies. The second group comprises the fonds of the township-wide fonds, which contain information on the socio-economic development of the township. The second group includes the fonds of Krasnoyarskgesstroy Construction Directorate, Krasnoyarsk Region Planning Commission, and the local branch of the Federal State Statistics Service in Krasnoyarsk Region. The use of the krai archives collections allows a comprehensive study of the phenomenon of young cities of the USSR. The analysis of documents related to Divnogorsk in the State Archive of Krasnoyarsk region will make it possible to understand the regularity of deposition of documents on history of young towns of the Soviet period in archives, which will contribute to further search of materials to study such topics.

Exploring Stakeholders’ Engagement in Heritage-Led Community Development in Historic Towns: The Case of Badagry, Lagos State

Exploring Stakeholders’ Engagement in Heritage-Led Community Development in Historic Towns: The Case of Badagry, Lagos State

Media culture as a factor of public opinion formation in small towns

Introduction. In the modern world, where the information environment is saturated with informational noise and mass means of communication, media culture acquires an important status in the formation of public opinion. This is especially true for small towns, as they may be remote from global media streams. Relevance and purpose. Media culture becomes a key tool for understanding and analyzing information included in public discourse and influences the formation of people’s consciousness and views. The purpose of the article is to study media culture as an important element of public opinion formation in small towns of Ukraine through the prism of identifying perspectives of influence and control. Methodology. Conceptual foundations for the study of modern media culture and its impact on the cultural and social structure of society were laid in foundational theories such as Marshall McLuhan’s «global village» and Alvin Toffler’s «future shock». Content analysis of scientific literature was also used as the main research method. Results. The influence of media culture on the formation of public opinion in small towns is extremely significant, especially due to the limited media space, which makes its influence even more significant. In such conditions, the media play a decisive role in the coverage of events at the local and national levels, as well as in the formation of the cultural and social identity of the community. The study emphasizes the importance of media self-regulation and the development of professional ethics to ensure objectivity and credibility of information. Financial support for independent media, local media and ensuring the confidentiality of sources are identified as critical factors for ensuring the quality of information services in small towns. Also, raising the level of media literacy is an important element, key to critical thinking and fact-checking. Therefore, initiatives and programs aimed at improving media literacy among residents of small towns are recognized as essential. Conclusions. Media culture is an important part of the socio-cultural development of small towns. Mass media play a key role in covering local or national events. For this reason, mechanisms of control over the manipulation of mass media are of particular importance. The work emphasizes the importance of media literacy among the population of small towns. Therefore, individual programs and initiatives can contribute to increasing the level of media literacy among residents of small towns.

Agent-based Model for Predictive Assessment of the Migration Flows Dynamics in Municipal areas of the Bashkortostan Republic depending on Changes in the Population Life Quality

Favorable demographic and migration situation in the region contributes to its economic prosperity, since qualified personnel are necessary for successful development of the production potential of the territory. The migration attractiveness of the territory is determined by the population life quality, which implies not only high incomes of citizens, but also the development of transport and social infrastructure, accessibility of educational and medical services, favorable climate and environmental conditions, availability of jobs. The article describes the mathematical apparatus for calculating the integral indicator of the population life quality. To support decision-making on managing migration processes, an agent-oriented model is proposed that allows predicting the intensity of migration flows in the municipal districts of the Bashkortostan Republic depending on changes in the population life quality. Algorithms for choosing a place of residence and placement of production facilities for the agents "Resident" and "Enterprise" are described in detail. The output data of the model are forecasts of changes in the satisfaction of residents of the territory with the life quality, the number of migrants in the municipal district, the level of economic development of enterprises. Based on the current Federal Program “Integrated Development of Single-Industry Towns”, scenario experiments were conducted, which made it possible to predict the indicators of migration growth of the territories of the Republic of Bashkortostan involved in the implementation of the program.

Spatial Morphological Changes in Towns in the Hangjiahu Region of China under Policy Implications

With the acceleration of urbanization, towns, as vital entities for coordinating urban-rural development and facilitating local urbanization, have garnered significant attention from Chinese scholars in recent years. Among these towns, Hangjiahu towns, as one of the fastest-growing and most promising regions for town development in China, is intricately intertwined with the optimization and adjustment of their spatial forms, guided by policies that continually evolve and adapt. This study begins by elucidating the evolution of policies of towns in Zhejiang province, summarizing the key focal points of higher-level planning in different phases. Subsequently, it delves into an in-depth analysis of the morphological transformations and organizational stages of Hangjiahu's towns under the influence of policy directives. Finally, it synthesizes the spatial evolution characteristics from the past and provides insights into future trends in spatial organization, to offer a template for the development of towns not only in China but also in other regions worldwide.

Методологические и практические вопросы стратегий развития моногородов: возможности предикативной аналитики

The purpose of the article is to study the problems associated with the stabilization of the situation in single-industry towns and the methodological justification of the practical possibilities of using predicative analytics in obtaining a predictive assessment of the growth points and taking into account risk factors during the creation of a strategy for sustainable development of a mono-profile territory. The historical significance of single-industry towns is shown and the reasons for the subsequent decline in their socio-economic indicators and the state of infrastructure are given. The consequences of the dependence of socio-economic indicators of single-industry town development on the financial results of the activity of a city-forming enterprise are analyzed. The expediency of developing a unified approach to technologies for solving the problems of single-industry towns development using predictive analytics tools in the process of planning the territory development is argued.

Потенциал применения зарубежного подхода при создании транспортно-логистической инфраструктуры

Changing the approach to the integrated development of the territories of the regions of Russia requires the development of conceptual approaches to the organization of logistics of road construction. It is noted that currently in Russia, key projects for the development of the country and society are implemented by achieving the goals and objectives of national strategies (national projects 2019-2024), in three areas - human capital, a comfortable living environment, economic growth. As a result of the low efficiency of the management mechanisms for the implementation of the tasks of the national strategy “Safe and High-quality Highways”, new projects for the development of small towns require complex solutions of contractors for the construction of logistics infrastructure. The projects of organization of construction and improvement of road transport infrastructure of foreign countries are considered. The analysis of road construction management models in China and India was carried out in order to determine the potential of applying a foreign approach to the creation of transport and logistics infrastructure in Russia within the framework of national strategies for the integrated development of the country's territory. The main obstacles to the realization of the Russian potential for economic growth and their causes are identified. Conclusions are drawn that in order to create a comfortable and efficient transport and logistics infrastructure in the region, it is advisable to expand the target regional road construction markets and apply a project approach with the choice of a road construction logistics operator.

Creating a Place: Identities Shaped by the Material Traces of the Past. Case-study of the Old Town of Užice


 The paper rests on the idea that the meanings and values of a place are flexible and changing, depending on the cultural and social values. The inhabitants of a certain place share the associations concerning it and its built elements. These shared associations or experiences create the perception of unity and shape a community. Various meanings were ascribed to the Old Town of Užice from the second half of the 14th century until 1863, when it was devastated. During the last four centuries of its existence, it presented a threat for the Christian inhabitants, so after its Turkish crew left, “the Serbs hastily destroyed the fort”. The survey conducted in 2013 showed that neither its position at the outskirts of the modern city, nor its special status gained by the administrative protection (granted in 1949) were sufficient to generate the positive attitude by the local population. By the beginning of the 21st century the Old Town was neglected and did not take part in the life of the modern settlement. With the dissolution of the former state and the abandonment of the traditions associated to the anti-Fascist struggle, Užice lost its esteem. The local authorities, dissatisfied by their position in the changed economic and political circumstances, decided to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Old Town in their strategy of the city regeneration. This meant the reconstruction of the Medieval fortress of Nikola Altomanović (14th cent.), and the Turkish period in the development of the Old Town was totally silenced. The official portals emphasize the Medieval past of the Old Town, in accordance with the modern Serbian identity, that was built and is still confirmed by the research and promotion of the Medieval history and its material traces. The narrative of the organic links between the modern nation and the Medieval heritage is fundamentally naturalized, indicating the Authorized Heritage Discourse in action, and the influence of the state and the experts on the relations a community creates towards the past. The processes that led to the reconstruction of the Old Town confirm that the relationship to spaces is not pre-defined by their physical characteristics, nor stable. The example of Užice vividly illustrates that a society always chooses which values should be emphasized, and which are the ones to be silenced or forgotten.

Questioning modernity and heritage: The case of the River Club development in Cape Town, South Africa

AbstractThe proposed construction of the controversial Amazon African headquarters at the River Club site in Cape Town encompasses several issues related to modern heritage, colonial practices, sustainable development, the nature‐culture divide, and the Anthropocene. Although approved by the City of Cape Town and the provincial government of the Western Cape, with plans for residential and business units, activists, researchers, environmental organizations, workers' unions, and social justice coalitions associated with indigenous Khoe and San groups oppose the development on the grounds of the symbolic and historical importance of the site earmarked for development. The paper aims to explore the significance of the site, analyze the ensuing confrontations and contestations and examine how the site represents spaces of public history, urban spatial construction, and memory. The focus of the paper will be the complex interplay between social, cultural, ethical, and political forces, and their intersection with legal and institutional policy processes at different levels of the state and the local. Ultimately, the paper challenges the claim of the City of Cape Town, the provincial government, and the developers that their version of historical progress is equitable and fair, and raises a broader question about Eurocentric ideas of emancipation, aesthetics and notions of history, heritage and development.