Megapolises and Megapolisness Phenomenon in Russia
V.N. LEKSIN1, B.N. PORFIRIEV2
1Institute for Systems Analysis, Federal Research Center В«Computer Science and Control», Russian Academy of Sciences, 60-let Oktyabrya av., 9, Moscow, 117312, Russia
2Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskiy av., 47, Moscow, 117418, Russia
Keywords: мегаполис, мегаполисность, города мегаполисного типа, расселение, миграция, экономическое развитие, социальная структура, социально-экономические реформы, megapolis, megapolisness, cities of megapolisness type, settlement pattern, migration, economic development, social structure, socioeconomic reforms
Abstract
The hallmark of the current stage of the world socioeconomic development involves its accelerating growth, as well as an increasing significance of the largest cities with mega-cities (megapolises) coming to the fore. The paper emphasizes the persisting trend of the megapolises' strengthening leadership measured by the concentration of people, infrastructure, transport, services, and primarily regarding the growth rate of their area, which doubles that of the population. We contemplated specific features of a Russian megapolis as a system that marries characteristics of both megalopolises (integrating a set of urban agglomerations) and large administrative centers. We substantiated the notion of «megapolisness» as an assembly of functional, city planning (architectural) and ecosystem features. In contemporary Russia, these are typical not only to million and over dwellers' cities but also to every regional administrative center or capital of the region. The article considers the impact of megapolisness phenomenon on the transformation of the existing system of settlement pattern, migration processes, and socioeconomic developments in Russia and evaluates this phenomenon including the role of megapolises as focal points for national reforms and new social structure. We discuss research trends in topical socioeconomic issues united under the title «Man in the Megapolis».
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