Assessment of the attractiveness of life in the Russian Arctic (on the example of the Murmansk region)

In recent decades, the population in the Arctic territories of the Russian Federation has been declining, which indicates the need for sociological monitoring of the development problems of this territory, which will make it possible to update measures to increase its attractiveness to the population. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of attractiveness of the Arctic territories based on the example of the Murmansk region in the views of its residents. According to a questionnaire survey (N = 444) and an indepth interview (N = 30) conducted by the authors in 2020, it was found that unfavorable environmental and climatic conditions, the views of the population on the lack of prospects for self-realization in the professional and social spheres of life, and opportunities for achieving the desired level of material and social well-being contribute to reducing the positive perception of the region. The study leads to the conclusion that it is necessary to take measures to increase the attractiveness of the Arctic territories as a place of residence. The obtained results can be useful in the regional programs for the development and improvement of the quality of life of the population of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.