Defining the Socio-Economic Impact and Gravitation Cluster Area of the State Ranked Strategical Central Cities That Play a Leading Role in Mongolia Development

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 11, titled “sustainable cities and communities” has a target (11a), which is Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. In this sense, the city is a key factor in creating sustainable development. At a time when urbanization is accelerating with rapid population growth, the social and economic role of urban areas is likely to increase and urban boundaries are expanding. In order to accelerate the development of modern urban areas, the urban cluster method is widely used to plan and develop large cities and their satellite cities, villages and settlements together. The purpose of our study is to identify the socio-economic impact and gravitation cluster area of the State ranked Strategical Central cities (Darkhan, Khovd, Choibalsan, and Dalanzadgad) and to support the development of urban, semi-urban and rural areas in a coordinated manner. According to John Friedman, based on the theory that urban field have a radius of up to 100 km, a radius of 100 km was drawn from the four city centers, after which the real socio-economic impact-gravity framework was determined based on three main indicators: Reilly’s law of retail gravitation, road classification and ecological barriers. By correctly defining the scope of socio-economic impact of these State ranked Strategical Central cities, it is possible to increase the development of neighboring localities, indirectly affect the territory outside the cluster area, and become a large complex with health, education, culture and industrial hubs.