Structural features of the municipal economy: Assessment and interpretation

Abstract

Aim. To propose an algorithm for structuring the economy of municipalities, allowing to determine their economic profile and classify them.Tasks. To generalize the available approaches to the structuring of the economy on the basis of the analysis of the types of structures, structural features and evaluation parameters identified in the scientific literature; to identify the limitations of the structural analysis of the economy due to the level of the object of study (municipal entity); to propose a methodology for analyzing the structural features of the economy of municipal entities, allowing to classify them in accordance with their inherent economic specifics.Methods. Theoretical and methodological basis of the study was formed by a set of scientific ideas in the field of regional economics, economic analysis, statistics. The author applied general scientific methods of theoretical and empirical cognition (logical, dialectical, comparative, cause-and-effect method, method of analysis and synthesis, method of scientific abstraction).Results. The algorithm of economic structuring is described, which includes such stages as defining the logic of this process, identifying the most significant structural features, selecting indicators for analysis, proposing a methodology for working with the selected indicators and determining approaches to the interpretation of calculation results. It is shown that the most significant problem of the study of economic structure at the municipal level is the limited number of indicators available for analysis. A methodological approach to analyzing the structural features of the economy of municipalities is proposed, which involves the use of data on the number of employed in their economy in terms of types of activities (taking into account small and micro-enterprises) and their subsequent classification, i.e. the allocation of agrarian, industrial, service types (with the possibility of combining them and designating subtypes in relation to the objects for which industrial activities are significant), as well as a separate category of municipalities, which do not have a pronounced economic structure.Conclusions. The proposed algorithm for analyzing the structural features of the economy of municipalities, taking into account the existing approaches and limitations of the statistical apparatus, can be used in practice (in determining the economic profile of municipalities, their economic specifics). This makes it useful for governing bodies of territories of different levels, responsible for the implementation of economic and spatial transformations.