ASSESSING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL MUNICIPALITIES OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC

The sustainable development of rural municipalities has been widely examined in the literature; however, the specific features of sustainable development in rural areas of the Russian Arctic remain insufficiently understood. This study aims to assess the level of sustainable development of rural municipalities within the Russian Arctic and to identify their distinctive characteristics. The study employs an indicator-based ranking methodology using the following criteria: local economic conditions, labor market development, food security, logistical accessibility, demographic dynamics, living standards, social infrastructure, environmental protection, and ecosystem status. The dataset comprised more than 5,000 indicators collected over a period exceeding ten years. The most sustainably developed territories were identified as the closed town of Vidyayevo, the Yamal District, and the Olenyoksky District. The analysis revealed a high degree of homogeneity in rural development patterns, resulting in similar disparities and structural characteristics across the studied municipalities. The findings indicate several key features of rural development in the Arctic: ecological balance requires improvement, land resources are largely unsuitable for agriculture, the expansion of social infrastructure remains relatively slow, while the length of road networks is gradually increasing. Rural settlements contribute to the formation of human capital but simultaneously experience its outflow due to migration. Positive trends include rising average wages and an increase in living space per capita. The results of the assessment contribute to the theoretical and methodological framework for evaluating municipal development by incorporating a long-term perspective and identifying key characteristics of sustainable development in Arctic rural areas. These findings may inform the refinement of existing strategies for the sustainable development of Arctic rural territories. Future research should expand the analysis to include all Arctic regions, including urban areas.