Assessing the Alignment of Strategic Goal Setting at the Federal and Regional Levels in the Context of Low-Carbon Development and the Transition to a Circular Economy

The need to align strategic priorities and objectives within a multilevel public governance system is recognized both theoretically and normatively; however, methodological approaches to the practical assessment of the degree of such alignment remain insufficiently developed. This study addresses this issue regarding two current areas of economic transformation: low-carbon development and the transition to a circular economy. The aim of the study is to develop a methodological approach to assessing the alignment of strategic goal setting at the federal and regional levels in these areas. The study employs content analysis, logical generalization, and structural-content comparison. The proposed approach is tested using the draft Strategy for the Socio-Economic Development of the Samara Region through 2036. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the methodological specification of the principles of the strategic alignment concept for assessing the integration of strategic directions identified at the federal level into regional strategic goal setting, as well as in the development of a system of criteria for such assessment. The practical significance of the proposed approach lies in its potential for reproducible application to the analysis of other areas of economic transformation and other constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The findings can be used in the development, updating, and expert assessment of strategic planning documents, particularly at the regional level.