GOVERNMENT SUPPORT OF SINGLE-INDUSTRY TOWNS IN RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The article discusses the results of research aimed at conducting the comparative analysis of implementation of the state policy for support of single-industry towns in Russia and Kazakhstan, the identification of specific and common problems as well as methods for solving them. The study reveals the stages in the development of support policy, analyzes the evolution of criteria used for selection of single-industry towns needed support, and considers factors that led to criteria refinement.The study provides a comparison of Russian and Kazakh single-industry towns in terms of their spatial localization, industry specialization, social and economic situation, population number.It is stressed that the key differences in the approaches to the development of single-industry towns in the countries are linked to the scale of support and degree of its selectivity, institutionalization characteristics, and coordination with national priorities.The authors describe key problems arising when implementing policy for support of single-industry towns in Russia and Kazakhstan and conclude that it is necessary to overcome the limitations of traditional approaches to urban policy implementation in conditions of negative economic dynamics.

Keywords

• single-industry towns
• government support
• comparative analysis
• criteria for selection of single- industry towns
• core enterprises