TYPOLOGY OF MUNICIPAL FORMATIONS FOR A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MORDOVIA
Introduction. One of the main unresolved problems of our time is sustainable development of the territories. The severity of the problem significantly differs in the countries of the world, administrative-territorial formations within states, cities, and rural settlements. It is connected with essential differentiation of regions and the necessity in the decision of many acute system problems on economic growth, preservation, and harmonious development of natural, industrial, demographic and historical and cultural potential of territories. Unified approaches to state regulation and self-governance by regions do not provide the necessary level of efficiency and lead to further growth of spatial inequality by strengthening the position of territory leaders and continuing stagnation of territory outsiders. Among many problems of spatial development at different levels (country, constituent entity, municipal), the least studied and developed is the municipal level. The purpose of the conducted research consists in scientific substantiation of introduction of tools of spatial development of territories into the system of strategic management of municipal formations. The results of the research. The working hypothesis of the study is the formation of methodology and tools for studying the sustainability of municipal territory development in order to implement public policy to improve the quality of life based on economic growth. The mechanism of state regulation of spatial development should take into account deep differentiation of territories and contribute to its smoothing, which requires a typology of municipal entities by the most important characteristics and possibilities of development. The assessment of territorial inequality within the Republic of Mordovia was carried out according to the data of 2015-2017, which confirmed the persistence of polarization of the socio-economic situation in the municipal areas of the region. Having carried out the typology of municipal areas on two main directions - periphery and socio-economic situation, it was revealed that the most lagging areas were the territories of agrarian direction. The research confirmed that the majority of rural areas of the Republic were depressed and had the lowest indicators of economic and social development. The development of these areas requires not only the use of the unified solution, but also the development of individual management solutions in the framework of effective dynamic development of municipal territories. Conclusion. In order to address the strategic objectives of the republic's development, for territories with low socio-economic indicators, it is necessary to implement an active employment policy through more effective development of small businesses, which allows to regroup labor resources into employment areas; to develop rural settlements, improving their social sphere; to create modern transport and social infrastructure; to make greater use of scientific and methodological recommendations to improve the territorial planning.