Role of public and private partnership in implementing development strategies of the south of Russia

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of public and private partnership (PPP) in implementing strategic priorities for developing the regions of Southern Russia. Public and private partnership is currently one of the prioritymechanisms for developing regional infrastructure, modernizing industry, establishing “smart” digital environment, improving social facilities, housing and communal services.Taking into account these factors, the authors suggest an approach to analysing the relationship between the level of PPP development in the regions of Southern Russia and key strategic development vectors by means of identifying the relation between the integrated indicators characterizing the level of social and economic development of regions, investment and innovation attractiveness, digitalization and energy efficiency of the corresponding regions of the South of Russia and the PPP development index. The graphical representation of the regions of Southern Russia in respect of the relevant integrated indicators reveales that higher competitive positions are provided in the following leading regions of the South of Russia: Krasnodar and Stavropol krai, Rostov, Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. The analysis makes it possible to identify interregional gaps in the period under study in terms of investment attractiveness, innovativeness, energy efficiency and digitalization of the regions of Southern Russia. It is determined that there exists a high level of regional “stratification” according to the level of social and economic development and public and private partnership (PPP) development. The study shows a high level of relationship between the strategic development of the regions of Southern Russia and the level of public and private partnership (PPP) development. In accordance with the obtained results the authors propose recommendations for improving institutional environment and management tools to enhance the public and private cooperation.