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The Positions of the Largest and Large Cities in Spatial Transformations of Russian Regions: The Case of the Urals

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Abstract—This article analyzes the positions of largest (with a population from 250 000 to  1 000 000 people) and large (with a population from 100 000 to 250 000 people) cities in the economic space of the regions of Russia based on the case of the Urals. The spatial significance of these cities is evaluated by the specific shares in the population, fixed capital expenditures, manufacturing output, retail turnover, and housing delivery. Imbalances are detected over all of the parameters, which is indicative of violations in the normal spatial pattern and deformations in the economic environment. The specific share of the largest and large cities of the Urals in retail turnover and housing delivery is lower than their share in the demographic figures. Traditional industries are the sole anchor to support the established settlement pattern structure. By 2017 the spatial significance of the largest and large cities of the Urals was generally lower than in 2007. Largest and large cities cease to function as trade and service centers for dwellers of nearby territories. The preservation of the situation that is now in evidence is fraught with the risks of growing imbalances in the national economic space and requires the encouragement of advanced development of the largest and large cities.

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Notes

  1. See: Code of practice SP 42.13330.2016. Urban Planning. Planning and Development of Urban and Rural Areas. Updated edition of SNiP 2.07.01-89, with amendments 1 and 2. http://docs.cntd.ru/document/456054209.

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  1. Ural State University of Economics, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    N. Yu. Vlasova

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Translated by S. Kuznetsov

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Vlasova, N.Y. The Positions of the Largest and Large Cities in Spatial Transformations of Russian Regions: The Case of the Urals. Reg. Res. Russ. 12, 299–308 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S207997052270006X

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