Issue № 81. August 2020

Kursk Region Spatial Development for the Purpose of Effective Public Administration

Varvara V. Akimovа — PhD, Research Fellow, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration; Faculty of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: varvaraakimova1576@gmail.com 

Vladimir M. Komarov — PhD, Director of Centre for Regional Development Strategies, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: komarov-vm@ranepa.ru

Vera M. Kidyaeva — PhD, Research Fellow, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Moscow, Russian Federation.
E-mail: veramkid@gmail.com

The article describes methodology and results of identifying the prospects for spatial development of the Kursk region for preparing Strategy of socio-economic development until 2030 in accordance with the concept of “smart specialization”, which is actively used at the moment in foreign countries. “Smart specialization” is a methodological approach to the formation of strategic documents aimed at stimulating innovative development through the fullest disclosure of the territory endogenous potential, combining elements of industrial, innovative and educational policy and using the “entrepreneurial search” process. The effective spatial development of the Kursk region on the basis of modern theoretical economic and geographical concepts seems to be an urgent task in connection with the status of a geostrategic territory assigned to the region in the framework of the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation. One of the seven priorities of the Strategy was “infrastructure and spatial development”, implying a balanced development of municipalities. In this paper, the economic zoning of the Kursk region is presented, which makes it possible to identify and take into account the endogenous factors of territorial development. The basis for zoning is the concept of propulsive industries, points, zones and growth belts. It is shown that the socio-economic development of the Kursk region is characterized by extreme spatial heterogeneity. In order to realize the spatial potential and formulate a modern policy aimed at the formation of “smart specialization” of certain territories, the so-called “classic version” of zoning has been developed, within which seven main economic regions have been identified depending on the density of economic activity, specialization, geographical connectivity, intensity of intermunicipal interaction. For each region, promising economic activities are proposed.

Keywords

Kursk region, subdivision into districts, economic zone, point of growth, growth belt, spatial planning.

DOI: 10.24411/2070-1381-2020-10076