Analysis of innovation and investment potential of municipalities to manage the process of its competitive growth

The paper deals with the problem of assessment of the innovation and investment potential of municipalities. The solution of this problem will lead to an increase of investments for innovation and economic growth in the whole region. The authors present a methodology for evaluation of the innovation and investment potential of municipalities, which includes several stages. The structure of complex indicators, proposed for assessment of innovation and investment potential of the territories, is considered. In the context of polarization of social and economic space in the region a need for classification of municipalities according to a type of pursued social and economic policies and the presence of prerequisites for innovative development is emphasized. The necessity of using the analysis for creation of a space-investment-innovation model of economic growth of municipalities is marked. The authors make a conclusion about the need for analysis of the innovation and investment potential in the activities of municipal authorities, since it allows: assess the status and readiness of municipalities to innovative changes; identify advantages and disadvantages, predict main trends of development; prepare recommendations for formation of innovative investment strategies of development.