METHODOLOGY AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Issue № 7, 2026, article № 29, pages 334-342

Section:

Language: Russian

Original language title: МЕТОДОЛОГИЯ И ПРОСТРАНСТВЕННЫЙ АНАЛИЗ УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ

Keywords: GEOMETRIC MEAN, INTEGRAL INDEX, MONITORING, MUNICIPAL LEVEL, SPATIAL ANALYSIS, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SARATOV REGION, RURAL AREAS, SUB-INDICES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract: The relevance of the topic is driven by the need to develop spatially sensitive and multidimensional tools for assessing the sustainable development of rural territories at the municipal level, which go beyond aggregated regional approaches and narrowly economic metrics. The problem statement is linked to the absence of balanced methodologies that account for the interaction of agro-economic performance, socio-economic conditions, infrastructure, and amenities. This complicates the typologization of territories and strategic planning in the context of intra-regional differentiation and external shocks. The research aim is to develop and test an Integral Index of Sustainable Rural Development, based on a systemic approach and utilizing official municipal statistics. The methods involve synthesizing three equally weighted sub-indices (Agro-Economic Performance; Socio-Economic Conditions and Infrastructure; Amenities) via the geometric mean, which prevents compensation of weak indicators by strong ones, in the spirit of the "strong" sustainability principle. Empirical testing was conducted on municipalities of Saratov Oblast using averaged data from 2019-2024. The dynamics of the consolidated regional index show a nonlinear but overall positive trend, reflecting phases of moderate growth, stagnation under the influence of external shocks, and recovery. Key findings highlight the advantages of the Integral Index of Sustainable Rural Development over production-centric and reductionist models: the index integrates into the scientific discourse as a tool for monitoring, planning, and prioritizing interventions within national and regional strategies, ensuring a balanced assessment of sustainability across key dimensions.

Authors: Dorofeev Andrey Fedorovich, Chepkasova Elena Alexandrovna, Ilyinskaya Ekaterina Vladimirovna