Migration of population in Sverdlovsk oblast: problems and solutions

In the context of the necessity to implement the national goals, one of the important areas of activity is support of positive demographic processes, promotion of population growth in the country, including through resettlement and migration of residents of other countries. This is relevant not only at the country level, but also at the regional level, each of which has features that must be considered when forming demographic policy. The article analyzes the effectiveness of the program to promote migration and resettlement of compatriots from other countries to Sverdlovsk oblast. Its advantages and limitations are highlighted, its effectiveness is considered on the example of immigrants from several CIS countries: Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. It is shown that despite the formal fulfillment of the objectives of the program (more than 28 thousand foreigners arrived in Sverdlovsk oblast within 9 years), some meaningful moments were missed, the selection of migrants based on the occupations in demand in the labor market of the region was not fully carry out. There are presented the directions of improving the program for the medium term, which are connected with new approaches to raising the quality of program implementation in Sverdlovsk oblast. It is shown that it is necessary to formalize and improve the mechanism for attracting foreign labor to the region using notification quotas, organized recruitment, modification of selection criteria for the point system, development of the material base and linguistic community for an accelerated adaptation. Analysis showed that promotion of resettlement is necessary with relation to professionals in relevant areas of activity (doctors, teachers), while the demand for unskilled labor is satisfied by migrants.

Modelling the Heterogeneity of the Mutual Influence between Russian Regions in the Manufacturing Industry

As factors affecting interregional interactions play an important role in regional economic development. Thus, developing a methodology for assessing these interactions is becoming urgent. The article proposes a methodological approach to analyse the factors influencing possible interactions between Sverdlovsk oblast and other constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the manufacturing industry. It is hypothesised that the elements of an interregional interaction matrix are proxy variables characterising the degree of this interaction. An economic analysis of relations and production chains between Sverdlovsk oblast and other constituent entitles confirmed this hypothesis. First, based on the spatial distribution of manufacturing output in the examined regions, values of an indicator showing the strength of their mutual influence were determined. Second, the impact of economic, infrastructural and institutional factors on the obtained indicator, characterising the inter action between Sverdlovsk oblast and other regions, was assessed using quantile regression. In this case, such a technique was chosen instead of the classical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression that incorrectly estimates the dependencies between the studied variables. This is expressed in the fact that the regression coefficients de pend on q-quantile of the dependent variable. We have revealed that price levels of the examined regions do not affect their possible interactions with Sverdlovsk oblast. Simultaneously, the dissemination of knowledge acts a driver of interaction between the considered regional manufacturing industries. The research findings can be used to prepare strategies, programmes and schemes for the placement and development of industries, considering the potential of Sverdlovsk oblast and other Russian regions.

Public Sector Financial Balances Based on the System of National Accounts

Studies on the impact of government expenditures on regional and municipal development mainly focus on examining local budgets. Simultaneously, each territory has various channels for financing public needs and collecting taxes and other payments. Therefore, this research develops and tests a methodology to construct the public sector financial balance at the municipal level. The presented approach in based on the System of National Accounts (SNA), which considers expenditures and revenues of the federal, regional or municipal budgets as a single institutional sector, regardless of their affiliation. Therefore, in order to achieve the municipal financial balance, it is necessary to analyse tax payments at various budget levels, grouping them in accordance with the SNA classification. For calculating municipal expenditures, an original technique was developed to consider the costs of all public sector financial flows, including direct federal and regional sources. We use official information on municipal payroll obtained from the Federal State Statistics Service database. The net lending/borrowing ratio is taken as a balance indicator of supply and use. Public sector financial balances were constructed for 69 municipalities of Sverdlovsk oblast. Calculations have shown that, on average, public sector expenditure is almost equally divided between regional and federal budgets (one half) and municipal budgets (another half). Various municipality types were identified: 9 donors of public administration resources in Sverdlovsk oblast; 5 territories (including Ekaterinburg city) with a moderate deficit of internal resources; 35 municipalities with a significant lack of finances; 11 areas completely dependent on public administration resources. This work is part of the research aiming to develop the System of Territorial Accounts, tat is, an SNA analogue that can be implemented at the regional and municipal levels.

Genetic Approach to Assessing the Infrastructure Coherence of an Industrial Region

In the context of external shocks, socio-economic coherence of an industrial region reflects its ability to function successfully. Many researchers examine economic space, focusing on interaction between entities (including infrastructure) while ignoring territorial boundaries. However, it is necessary to consider a region’s endogenous core, whose historically connected elements generate evolutionary changes under the influence of external factors. This study develops tools to assess regional infrastructure coherence, taking into account the endogenous determinants of its socio-economic development. The research methodology includes: a comparison of absolute and relative territorial characteristics and infrastructure development parameters; statistical, economic and mathematical methods for determining and evaluating the resulting indicators; an expert assessment of the infrastructure potential; a matrix method for identifying the depth of infrastructure gaps. An analysis of Sverdlovsk oblast and neighbouring regions revealed infrastructure gaps of the first level of depth (insignificant, significant, stably significant), violating the integrity of the regional core, as well as gaps of the second level of depth (forming, potentially forming), requiring serious transformations of the core elements. The con ducted research determined the infrastructure coherence characteristics of the regional core. Thus, the most favourable situation is in Sverdlovsk oblast, whose core has strong integrity. The most unfavourable situation is observed in Perm Krai and Khanty- Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Perm Krai’s core is characterised by minor gaps of the first level of depth and potential second level gaps. In Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, significant first level gaps are already established, while second level gaps are still forming. This situation occurred due to the industrial specificity of these regions, as well as the discrepancy between high economic activity (increasing the demand for transport services) and infrastructure development. Further research will focus on the ways to improve the regional connectivity at the intra- and inter-regional levels.

Mineralogy of bloomery slags of the Shuvakish ironworks plant (outskirts of Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk oblast)

The mineralogy of slags of the Shuvakish ironworks plant is studied. The plant had been operated during the reign of Peter the Great from 1704 to 1716 years and was located within the present-day northwestern outskirts of Yekaterinburg. The slags are composed of fayalite aggregate with a signifcant content of hercynite and wustite and contain spherules of iron, glass, leucite and ferromerrillite. The chemical composition of rock-forming and ore minerals is determined on a JSM-6390LV (Jeol) SEM equipped with an INCA Energy 450 X-Max 80 EDS (Oxford Instruments) (Institute of Geology and Geochemistry UB RAS, Yekaterinburg). The slags formed as a result of bloomery iron production. Their formation temperature is estimated in a range of 1177 °С on the basis of eutectic crystallization of wustite and fayalite. The Shuvakish plant was supplied with marsh iron ore, which was most likely extracted in the nearest Moleben swamp located to the north from the plant.

Methodology for Identifying the Boundaries of Agglomerations based on Statistical Data

Significant difference in development between the municipalities is an obstacle for achieving economic sustainability in many Russian regions. Regional development strategies and plans of various municipalities often cannot be synchronised because of their incompatibility. Moreover, municipalities usually lack necessary resources to implement their strategies. To solve these problems, we identified groups of municipalities (key units of the settlement system (KUSS)) based on the existing socio-eco- nomic relations, common challenges and development potential. We propose a methodology for identifying KUSS and describe its application. This methodology relies on statistical data available at the municipal level. To assess the interconnection of municipalities, we used 6 statistical socio-economic indicators and 1 integrated index of Gross Municipal Product (GMP). The difference in the first 6 indicators of the development of municipalities demonstrated, that less developed municipalities tend to more developed ones. We used the values of gross municipal product to define high mutual attraction of large municipalities (similar to the gravity model). The distance between municipalities reduced their mutual influence. Due to the limited data set, it was necessary to consider the reliability of the identified inter-municipal relations. Thus, we compared the obtained results with empirical data on population distribution and circular migration between municipalities in the region. The comparison of our calculations and actual data showed high precision of the presented methodology. The resulting grouping of municipalities allowed identifying 21 key units of the settlement system in Sverdlovsk oblast. The proposed methodology can be used for deter- mining large groups of municipalities in Sverdlovsk oblast, as well as in other Russian regions.

Agglomeration as a mechanism for ensuring sustainable and balanced development of territories

The article is devoted to the study of the development of agglomeration processes in the subject of the Russian Federation. The research methodology is based on the theoretical principles of strategic management, regional, municipal and spatial economics. This study of agglomeration processes in a subject of the Russian Federation is based on a comprehensive analysis of legislative documents, statistical reporting data, texts of strategies for the socio-economic development of municipalities by using a combination of methods: logical, dialectical, and also causal. The theoretical foundations of the relevance of the formation and development of agglomerations are analyzed. The results of the study of agglomeration processes in the Sverdlovsk Oblast are presented; conclusions are drawn about the prevailing trends in socio-economic and spatial development. The conclusion is made about the need for competent, controlled development of agglomerations in order to ensure sustainable and balanced economic and spatial development of the region. The article is aimed at scientists-researchers, practitioners, including state and municipal officials involved in managing the development of territories and other interested parties.

Sverdlovsk Oblast in the diplomatic history of the USSR: visits of top officials of foreign countries to the region (1955–1965)

The article deals with the problem of increasing the regions’ role in international and foreign economic cooperation of the Soviet Union in 1955–65. The aim of the research is to study the dynamics of the visits of foreign countries’ leaders to Sverdlovsk Oblast, which was traditionally considered as “closed.” Based on the results of the study, the stages of diplomatic activity in the region are identified. It was found that 1955–59 and 1963–65, when 18 visits of leaders of capitalist, socialist and developing countries to Sverdlovsk Oblast were organized and held, were the most eventful periods in this regard. The programs of the visits to the territory of the oblast were analyzed. Based on the results of the analysis, the average length of stay in Sverdlovsk Oblast, the preferred period for a trip to the Middle Urals, and general principles and features of organizing the reception of eminent guests in Sverdlovsk Oblast were determined. It was revealed that the Sverdlovsk Oblast Committee of the CPSU approved a list of 64 institutions which were recommended for foreign delegations to visit. The article highlights the key objects and facilities that were shown to foreign guests. It was found that the main point of the program of almost all delegations was a visit to Uralmash. Foreign guests also visited other industrial enterprises, including those which were located within the 40–50 km radius of the administrative center of the region, the city of Sverdlovsk. The article reveals the importance of the role assigned to the cultural program (visiting the Geological Museum and theaters). Sojourn in Sverdlovsk Oblast allowed eminent guests to see the potential of one of the country’s industrial centers in person and facilitated placing orders in the oblast for the needs of the economy of foreign countries. In addition, an ideological task was solved: the peaceful stance of the Soviet Union which possessed powerful defense potential was demonstrated to the guests. The author concludes that the involvement of the USSR’s regions in the processes of international cooperation was effective. At the same time, the adjustment of the country’s foreign policy in the mid-1960s was marked by a trend towards a decrease in the number of trips of foreign countries’ top officials to the regions of the USSR, including Sverdlovsk Oblast, within the framework of official and working visits.