THE ROLE OF CONSUMER COOPERATION IN STRENGTHENING THE CONNECTIVITY OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPACE OF THE VOLOGDA REGION: EXPERT ASSESSMENTS

Abstract

Introduction. On the way of achieving strategic goals for Russia – the balance of the economic space and the sustainability of socio-economic development – the task of strengthening and developing links between territories of different hierarchical levels, in particular, local territories, is important. One of the tools for solving this problem is consumer cooperation. The purpose of the article is to identify problems and substantiate the prospects for the development of consumer cooperation as a tool to strengthen the connectivity of the socio-economic space of the region. At the same time, connectivity is considered from the perspective of not only the presence, but also the quality (intensity, stability) of connections between the system-forming elements of space.

Materials and methods. The methodological basis of the study was the provisions of the regional economy concerning the factors, methods and tools for ensuring the connectivity of the regional economic space. The methods of expert survey, analysis and synthesis, systematization, monographic were used. The respondents in the survey were the chairmen of the councils of unions of consumer societies of municipal districts and districts of the Vologda region.

Results and conclusions. The study identified the key areas and directions of consumer cooperation influence on the development and strengthening connectivity of Russian territories. The main factors hindering the development of cooperation in Russia, according to the cooperators, are highlighted. They are – the lack of labor resources; the high level of taxation of cooperatives; depopulation and migration outflow of rural residents to cities; critical deterioration of the material and technical base; insufficient attention from the authorities and society as a whole to the development of cooperation. The measures of state support are proposed, which can ensure, on the one hand, the leveling of the negative impact of the above factors, on the other, the active development of consumer cooperation based on the diversification of consumer societies, access to new sales markets, etc. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the study of consumer cooperation through the prism of the problems of ensuring the connectivity of the Russian space.

Discussion.The results of the work can be used by researchers in conducting research on similar topics, by state authorities of the subjects of the Russian Federation and local governments in implementing projects and improving policies in the field of strengthening territorial connectivity, developing consumer cooperation, ensuring socio-economic and spatial development of territories.