THE ROLE OF RURAL AREAS IN THE STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES OF THE SOUTH OF WESTERN SIBERIA

The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of rural areas to the socio-economic development of the South Siberian regions and their role in strategic planning documents. The object of the study is the rural areas of the South Siberian macroregion: Altai Krai, the Altai Republic, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Omsk, and Tomsk regions. Here, 40.7% of the total population lives in rural areas. To achieve the goal of the study, official state and municipal statistics, strategic development documents of various levels, and mathematical, statistical, and analytical research methods were used. Spatial analysis of the role of rural areas in the socio-economic development of the South Siberian regions showed significant territorial differentiation of rural areas. Rural areas gravitating towards the largest cities and regional capitals are characterised by a higher level of development. They make a significant contribution to the production of agricultural products, the number of labour resources, and the volume of local budget revenues of the South Siberian macroregion. At the same time, the level of average monthly wages and the level of development of infrastructure sectors in rural areas are traditionally lower than in urban areas. The analysis of the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Rural Areas showed that the planned result for some target indicators of the strategy is successfully achieved, including population figures, the reduction of migration outflow from villages to cities, and living space per person. The goals for employment, the ratio of per capita available resources of urban and rural households, the availability of wired Internet, paved roads, and first aid are not achieved. At the regional level, the highest financial support for the implementation of measures is noted in regions with agricultural specialisation, namely Altai Krai and Omsk Oblast. The strategies for the socio-economic development of the regions implement a cluster approach. The emphasis is on identifying clusters of economic development, mainly around urban agglomerations. However, the key priorities of the strategic development of the South Siberian regions do not include either agricultural production or issues of equalising the economic and social development of residents of rural areas and urban settlements. Therefore, additional organisational, financial, and administrative measures are needed so that rural areas take a more significant place in the strategic documents of the country's spatial development.

rural areas, South Siberian macroregion, strategic planning documents, sustainable development of rural areas, spatial analysis