Strengthening of agglomeration processes in spatial development: theory and practice

Abstract

Currently agglomerations are one of the most widespread forms of territorial organization of population, whose formation is determined by many socio-economic reasons: urbanization, pendulum migration, strengthening of inter-municipal and inter-regional relations, formation of new centres of economic activity and points of innovation growth, concentration of production capacities, the influence of transnational corporations, etc. However, uncontrolled intensive sprawl of agglomerations leads to the formation of many risks — economic, environmental, social, legal and managerial. This article deals with the study of agglomeration processes in Russia and a number of foreign countries. It considers the evolution of theoretical approaches of representatives of regional economic science in the context of research into the conceptual framework of agglomerations. The article provides examples of practical mechanisms of agglomeration processes regulation in the world. The author’s assessment of the impact and role of agglomerations on spatial and socio-economic development of the Russian Federation is given. The following research methods are applied: system approach, comparative analysis, content analysis, graphical method, statistical methods, methods of observation and modeling.