Methodological approach to assessment of the infrastructure of the northern border region of Russia

In this paper, for the presentation of infrastructure in the regions it is suggested to use the infrastructure framework that allows to evaluate the main characteristics of the state of the regional infra-structure, priorities and perspectives of its development. The infrastructure framework in the region means the totality of the optimal number of different types of infrastructures that form a spatially organizational subsystem of the regional socio-economic system, which is sufficient to ensure a reliable, exchange of the results of activities in social production and normal life of the population. This space-organizational sub-system is an integral part of the regional economic system to ensure effective functioning of the regional economic space. Taking into account that this framework is based on the infrastructure system of regional markets functioning, including reproduction, consumption, exchange and distribution, the value of this space-organizational system is more and more increasing every year. In this paper, the proposed model of infrastruc-tural framework is presented based on a study of 14 north (extreme environmental conditions) border regions of Russia. The study found that in order to perform the functions of a northern border region, it is enough for a region to have 11 kinds of infrastructure in their totality forming the infrastructural framework in the region. According to the results of the calculations, the integral index of the level of infrastructure development for the northern (extreme) border regions of the Russian Federation (0.858, 2012) shows the gap of 14% of the average Russian level. At the same time, there is a significant indicator of differentiation across regions. Of the 14 northern border regions, only two regions have the level of infrastructure development at the level of the national average (Sakhalin Oblast and Primorsky Krai). The level of the development of infrastructure framework in Kamchatka Krai and Altai Republic is close to the average value, accounting for more than 0.8. The lowest level of infrastructural framework (less than 0.6) was observed in five of the northern border regions (Tuva Republic, Tyumen, Murmansk and Magadan Oblasts, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug). In summary, it should be stressed that the findings highlight the need for attention from the federal government to the issues and problems of infrastructural framework of the border regions. It should be emphasized that the findings may be used by regional governments to identify strategic priorities for the development and targeting of infra-structural investments and by federal authorities for monitoring. In recent years, the implementation of infrastructure projects is creating a new infrastructure framework of regions that, on the one hand, provides the foundation for innovation and investment links with new qualities, and, on the other, improves the socioeconomic space of the territory, providing new opportunities for the development of local communities.

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