Rationale for the Transition From Rural Development Policy to Rural-urban Development Policy

Issue № 10, 2021, article № 10, pages 87-97

Section: Development of rural territories

Language: Russian

Original language title: ОБОСНОВАНИЕ НЕОБХОДИМОСТИ ПЕРЕХОДА ОТ ПОЛИТИКИ РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ К ПОЛИТИКЕ СЕЛЬСКО-ГОРОДСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ

Keywords: URBAN SETTLEMENTS, RURAL-URBAN TERRITORIES, RURAL SETTLEMENTS, MUNICIPALITIES, MUNICIPAL BUDGETS, INCOMES, EMPLOYMENT

Abstract: In the twentieth century, industrialization and urbanization stimulated rural outflows from rural to urban areas. An increase in the proportion of the urban population was one of the indicators of the development of the country and its individual regions. The reduction of the rural population was stimulated by the state. The outflow of the population from the villages allowed increasing labor productivity and income of the remaining residents. With the adoption of the State Program for the Integrated Development of Rural Territories (SP IDRT), significant adjustments have been made to this policy: the main goal of the new policy is to prevent a decrease in the share of the rural population in its total number, maintain social control over the territory, and contribute to improving the national security of the country. To achieve the main goal, it is planned to ensure a sharp increase in the employment of the rural population, a faster increase in the incomes of the villagers compared to the townspeople, and an increase in the improvement of rural housing. In this article, in the order of scientific discussion, an attempt was made to consider an alternative SP IDRT version of the policy, which provides not for separate measures for the development of rural territories, but for the integrated development of rural-urban territories. To justify the alternative policy option, data were analyzed for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and municipal areas based on their classification. According to the results of the analysis, it was found that with an increase in the share of the rural population in the territory, employment and incomes of the population, social payments, budgetary security, and social control over the territory fall. The SP IDRT provides for the preservation of the share of the rural population at approximately the modern level by limiting the outflow of the population from rural settlements, which can negatively affect the employment and income of both rural and urban populations. To ensure the employment of the local population and maintain social control over the territories, it is advisable to form 700-800 urban settlements (small capitals) on the basis of existing rural settlements or the laying of new urban settlements in municipalities where there is no urban population (zero level of urbanization).

Authors: Uzun Valerii IAkimovich