Issue of encouraging comfortable living of a large city population (case study of Vologda and Cherepovets)

In the context of growing competition among cities for financial, investment, human and human resources the problems of improving population’s life quality do not lose their relevance. At the same time, the level of residents’ satisfaction with living conditions in the city is one of the main indicators of authorities’ performance. The main purpose of the study is to conduct a comparative analysis of population’s living conditions in Vologda and Cherepovets, as well as identify a set of measures to improve the comfort of urban environment. The key problems that reduce the comfort of living in these cities are identified on the basis of the results of the questionnaire survey of Vologda and Cherepovets residents conducted in 2017. An unsatisfactory condition of the housing sector, a bad quality of repair work of streets and apartment buildings, a lack of parking spaces, a poor condition of yards, and a poor quality of services of health care, culture and sports are critical problems, according to the residents. Almost by all indicators of living conditions the city of Cherepovets is a more comfortable city compared to Vologda. The survey results also show that the Vologda citizens in contrast to those of Cherepovets are more skeptical about results of the authorities’ activities to solve urban problems. Based on the study of the experience of the most successful Russian municipal practices in the formation of a comfortable urban environment, the set of measures to improve living conditions and enhance life quality of Vologda and Cherepovets population is determined. The research uses a method of system analysis, sociological research, tabular and graphical methods of data visualization. The results obtained in the study course can be used in the city authorities’ activities to improve municipal socio-economic policy, develop and implement measures aimed at increasing the level of attractiveness and comfort of living in the city.