Man in the north after disintegration of the USSR: from recognition to ignoring

The change in living conditions of man in the North after disintegration of the USSR is studied. The attention is focused on depressed northern city with high enough reserves of natural resources, non-realized possibilities of diversification and decrease in labour potential. On materials of case-study it is proved that the modern Russian market has strengthened the operational (consumer) way of development of natural and manpower resources of the territory. The author calls in question the efficiency of the economy neglecting the development of man and local communities.