Settlements' Spatial development in the Altai and Tyva republics: a sociological analysis

The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of two regions of Southern Siberia: the Altai and Tyva republics. The purpose of the study was to identify general patterns and individual features of the spatial development of these republics both at the regional and municipal level. The information base for the study was the results of sociological surveys of the population conducted in cities and villages of these two republics, as well as data from regional and municipal statistics of Rosstat. In the sociological research, the methods of questioning, generalization, statistical analysis, graphic analysis were used; to analyze demographic and economic processes, the following methods were used: cartographic, statistical, comparative analysis, forecasting, and specialization identification. Analysis of the demographic trends has shown the possibility of depopulation in the coming years in the Altai Republic and in the long term - in the Tyva Republic. Analysis of the data of sociological surveys demonstrates that for the cities of the Tyva Republic, the problems of communal services are key, and for the settlements of the Altai Republic- economic problems. A subjective assessment of the state and dynamics of the development of industrial enterprises is given, the level of development of small and medium-sized enterprises, promising economic specializations of the regions is estimated. Transport accessibility of cities and villages in the republics is estimated. Economic measures aimed at solving the existing problems and correcting the negative demographic trends are proposed. The results of the work can be used to develop priority measures of regional policy in order to develop the advantages of each of the regions and specific settlements.