A sociological approach to the study of the state of commuting in the territory of the city of Belgorod and neighboring regions
The pertinence of the work stems from the necessity to study the contradictions between the social practices of residents of the agglomeration in terms of commuting and the need to streamline this process in the interests of developing the territory and improving the quality of life of the population. The purpose of the work is to study the position of the population, municipal officials and experts regarding the phenomenon of commuting. Since the process of commuting is insufficiently studied, the level of this indicator can be assessed using an analytical method, according to passenger traffic data, as well as the sociological survey data. It is sociological polls that make it possible to study the process of commuting migration most fully and comprehensively. To form a correct assessment of the process of commuting, three groups of respondents were formed: residents of settlements belonging to the Belgorod agglomeration; municipal employees and specialists of local self-government bodies of municipalities belonging to the Belgorod agglomeration; a group of experts who, by virtue of their professional activities, can give qualified judgments on the development of the agglomeration. The results obtained helped to analyze the types and frequency of interaction of the population with the city-center, the perception of the problematic nature of commuting, as well as the estimated characteristics of life in the conditions of agglomeration.