The issue opens with an article from the editorial board, Director of FSBIS VolRC RAS, Dr. Sci. (Econ.) A.A. Shabunova, Dr. Sci. (Econ.). Professor T.V. Uskova, Cand. Sci. (Econ.) S.A. Kozhevnikov “About the Journal's Development Concept: Searching for a Response to Modern Challenges”, which examines the need to resolve the deep, accumulated over the previous decades problems related to the effectiveness of state management of territorial development, a clear definition of the sovereign national course of development. According to the authors, the search for answers to these questions presupposes the need for scientific substantiation of strategic priorities for the development of the country and its regions aimed at unlocking endogenous potential, creating conditions for the development of all types of territories, not just the largest, large cities and urban agglomerations.
In addition, the authors have outlined several conceptual theses designed to reveal the subject field of the journal and its positioning among other leading Russian periodicals on regional and spatial economics.
The journal covers theoretical aspects of spatial and territorial economic processes and relations; a methodological approach to assessing the financial stability of the development of territorial systems at the regional and municipal levels of government; a methodology for assessing regional and sectoral differentiation of corporate social responsibility; a methodological approach to identifying sectoral reserves for increasing labor productivity at the regional level; key issues of digital transformation in Russian regions and assessment of its potential as a tool for reducing economic space differentiation; assessment of the impact of improved housing conditions on the convergence of urban and rural population fertility in post-Soviet Russia; regional characteristics and assessment of the impact of population aging on the quality of life and human potential of territories; spatial and econometric modeling of regional labor productivity factors in China, taking into account aging the population.
The topics are covered in detail in articles by leading experts on spatial issues:
“Territorial-Economic Processes and Relations (Theory and Its Practical Application)” by V.N. Lazhentsev, Dr. Sci. (Geogr.)., RAS Corresponding Member, Chief Researcher, Institute of Socio-Economic and Energy Problems of the North, Komi Science Center, UB RAS (Syktyvkar);
“Theoretical and Methodological Approach to Assessing the Financial Stability of the Socio-Economic Development of Territorial System” by I.V. Naumov, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Economics, UB RAS, N.L. Nikulina, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Economics, UB RAS (Yekaterinburg);
“Regional and Sectoral Differentiation of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Russian Federation: Assessment Methodology” by L.V. Babich, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), First Deputy Director, VolRC RAS, S.L. Ivanov, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Researcher, VolRC RAS (Vologda);
“Sectoral Reserves for Increasing Labor Productivity in the Regional Economy (Case Study of the Vologda Region)” by E.V. Lukin, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Leading Researcher, VolRC RAS, I.R. Cheplinskite, Junior Researcher, VolRC RAS, D.M. Lisenkov, Research Engineer, VolRC RAS (Vologda);
“Reducing the Differentiation of Regions’ Economic Space Based on Digital Transformation: Theoretical, Methodological and Practical Aspects” by A.D. Lavrik, Junior Researcher, ISER UFC RAS (Ufa);
“The Impact of Improved Housing Conditions on the Convergence for Urban and Rural Fertility in Post-Soviet Russia” by E.L. Domnich, Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Senior Researcher, Economic Research Institute, FEB RAS (Khabarovsk);
“Population Aging Features: Analysis of Regional Differentiation” by A.A. Kolesov, Research Engineer, VolRC RAS (Vologda);
“Spatial Econometric Model of China’s Regional Labor Productivity: The Role of population aging” by Jiang Ling, Graduate student, Moscow School of Economics, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow).
Traditionally, the issue of the journal ends with the heading “Monitoring changes”. It reflects the monitoring results of the Russian North-West economy in November 2025, concerning the growth of household incomes and investments against the background of a slowdown in entrepreneurial activity, prepared by E.V. Lukin, Senior Researcher, Head of Center for Structural Research and Forecasting of Territorial Development, and M.A. Sidorov, Senior Researcher.
The articles in this issue of the journal will be of interest not only to scientists, but also to representatives of regional and local authorities, as they contain scientifically sound proposals that can be used in the practice of public and municipal administration.
Full-text versions of the articles in the current issue can be accessed on the journal website.