Economic and Demographic Dynamics of Settlements in Leningrad Oblast: Influence of Transborder Clustering Factors

Abstract

This article presents an original method of assessing the influence of the factor of transborder clustering on the economic and demographic dynamics of the Leningrad oblast territories. It is shown that the economic potential is primarily focused in towns (especially in district centers), as well as in rural settlements neighboring St. Petersburg. Amid the crisis trends evident since summer—autumn 2014, the majority of settlements hosting the components of transborder clusters (in areas such as shipbuilding, machinery industry, wood processing, pharmaceuticals industry, IT technology, etc.) increased their tax base and, at the same time, showed a positive demographic dynamics; the clusters themselves in this generally adverse situation (in the presence of currency and finance turbulence, opposition to sanctions, and, consequently, a reduction in export and import operations), demonstrate an ability to adapt and represent a significant factor of the territory’s socioeconomic resistance.