Аuthors:

Elena B. Dvoryadkina, Dr. Sc. (Econ.), Professor of Regional, Municipal Economics and Governance Dept. Ural State University of Economics

Elizaveta A. Belousova, Cand. Sc. (Econ.), Sr. Lecturer of Regional, Municipal Economics and Governance Dept. Ural State University of Economics

Abstract.

Several decades have seen negative trends in spatial economic development of rural municipalities not only in Russia, but in the majority of developed countries. Such a situation is due to the concomitant transformation of the settlement system during the change of socio-economic development stages and requires searching for the relevant management methods and mechanisms. The paper focuses on designing a mechanism for controlling spatial economic development of a rural municipality considering the case of Russia’s municipal districts and allowing for the condition of the economic space outside cities and changes in the regional governance paradigm. Spatial economics and regional governance paradigm constitute the methodological basis of the research. The methods include systematisation, functional and comparative analysis, deduction, elements of the regulatory impact assessment. The research allows concluding that it is beneficial for the regional government to take into account the values and methods of the post-new public management (post-NPM) and to incorporate them into management of municipalities’ spatial economic development. The most important characteristics of such management include focus on social problems (specific for the territory and related to its identity), their priority over economic growth; long-term strategic thinking given there is an objective to embrace interests of the inhabitants; centralized collection of various timely objective information about citizens’ needs with the aim of sustainable development of a region; participatory approach in the sphere of interaction between citizens and local authorities; networking between government authorities, business, inhabitants and consultancy infrastructure. The study of the strategic framework of spatial economic development reveals that at national level the principal role of municipalities is to reinforce the settlement system. In line with the findings of the research, the authors build a concept and a mechanism for implementation of a municipal programme that understands the regional governance paradigm changes and trends in spatial development of rural municipalities.

Keywords:

strategic management; regional governance; spatial development; rural municipality; post-NPM; municipal district.

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