TRENDS IN THE ECONOMIC FRAGMENTATION OF OLD INDUSTRIAL REGIONS IN THE RUSSIAN NORTH AND ARCTIC: THE CASE OF THE KOMI REPUBLIC

The rational use of available economic space has become a critical challenge for the socio-economic development of the Russian North and Arctic. One of the key drivers of spatial imbalances has been the regional policies pursued since the early 1990s, which have led to the ongoing transformation of economic space, its “compression,” and subsequent fragmentation. In this study, fragmentation is understood as a pronounced differentiation in the levels of economic and social activity across the population. Today, negative economic and demographic trends in several old industrial regions of the Russian North and Arctic—such as declining production in key industries, shrinking working-age populations, and sustained migration outflows—have further intensified spatial disparities. These dynamics have created divergent paths of socio-economic development between major industrial centers and peripheral regions. The objective of this study is to identify the main trends in the transformation of the Komi Republic’s economic space over recent decades. The research employs a combination of methods, including territorial comparison, statistical analysis, ranking, and the classification and grouping of territories based on population size and density. The study yielded several key findings. First, the main stages of spatial development in the Komi Republic were identified, reflecting the scale and pace of natural resource exploitation: the onset of active development, fueling the growth of cities and urban-type settlements (1921–1950); the formation of a network of industrial centers (1950–1990); a reduction in economic activity accompanied by socio-demographic decline (1990–present). Second, since the 1990s, there has been a steady population decline, particularly in small towns, driving further fragmentation of the economic space. Third, the growing concentration of the population in larger cities has resulted in an “island” pattern of territorial development, exacerbating disparities between developed industrial areas and peripheral zones. This process risks further degradation of the economic space and a weakening of territorial connectivity. Future research should focus on strategies to stabilize the population of the Komi Republic, including diversifying economic activity and fostering development in sparsely populated areas. The novelty of this study lies in identifying the stages of spatial development in the Komi Republic, demonstrating how deepening fragmentation inevitably leads to spatial compression, and revealing the significant influence of socio-demographic factors on these processes in the old industrial regions of the Russian North and Arctic. The practical significance of this research lies in its applicability for developing forecasts, regional strategies, and national programs aimed at preserving populations in small towns, diversifying local economies, and attracting infrastructure investment in the Russian North and Arctic.