Social Policy of Mining Companies as an Institution for the Development of Rural Areas in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

This study examines the social policy of mining companies in rural areas of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which forms the institution of corporate social responsibility. The aim of the study is to describe this institution, i.e. the set of mechanisms used by the enterprise to interact with its operating environment (authorities and population), the process of forming the object of interaction and directions. The novelty of the research is determined by the voluntary nature of corporate social responsibility, i.e. the absence of a direct regulatory institutional environment. The social policies of JSC Severalmaz (Arkhangelsk Oblast) and LLC LUKOIL-Komi (Republic of Komi) are selected as the object of the study. The research methods include dynamic horizontal analysis of socio-economic indicators for 2012–2023, case method and content analysis. The data sources are corporate reports, official notes on the websites of companies and municipalities for 2023. The collected data was quantitatively assessed and systematized in terms of the areas of social initiatives, geography of implementation, and beneficiaries. Based on the analysis of social activities, it was found that the focus areas differ in the administrative center, where “social sphere” and “education and science” predominate, and rural settlements, where corporate activities depend on development disparities. Among the formal mechanisms for participation in solving problems, agreements, cooperation contracts and grant support prevail. At the same time, informal mechanisms are actively used: targeted assistance and employee initiatives. Social responsibility policy tends towards the “strategic” type, where measures with both long-term and short-term effects are implemented. As a result, mining companies are becoming a significant part of the development of rural areas in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which determines the emergence of the institution of corporate social responsibility. The data obtained will serve as a basis for the development of social policies by corporations and municipal authorities.