Theme 1.1. The subject, method and objectives of EG. Geography, territory and borders of Russia

Course subject “EG”. Role of EG as methodological base of forecasting at macroeconomic level. Maintenance EG of a scientific substantiation of an economic policy in the field of placing productive forces, the territorial organisation of a social production in economic region (ER). Value EG as sciences in the theory and practice of a rational territorial public division of labor, a skilful combination of branch and territorial development. 2) place EG in system of economic and geographic sciences. Communication EG with other disciplines. historical stages of development of theoretical bases EG. A role of the Russian scientists in development EG. Methods of geographical knowledge. Problems of EG on improvement of placement of productive forces (RPS) in the conditions of market economy with a view of production efficiency increase. EG and preservation of the environment. 3) the Geographical position of the Russian Federation, the sizes of territory, a borders and an estimation of degree of their usefulness for development of internal and external economic relations. the administrative-territorial device and economic division into districts of the Russian Federation. course structure “EG the Russian Federation”.

The basic reductions and terms EG

The geography in a translation from Greek means «description of earth» . EG – the complex science considering the nature and a society in close interrelation.
Object of research is the part of the geographical cover actively involved in activity of a society. A subject of studying of course EG is the territorial organisation of economy (national economy).
«The economic and social geography of Russia studies objective laws and specific features of the territorial organization of productive forces (the population, nature using and an economy) the countries according to the general and regional natural, economic and socially-geographical conditions». (Khrushchev А.Т., 1997, p. 5)
«Subject EG includes:

1) forms of the territorial organization of a social production. Laws of territorial placing of branches of industrial and non-productive spheres;

2) potential of nature and resources, its economic estimation, nature using economy;

3) branch, interbranch, territorial economic relations;

4) systems of moving of the population, territorial structure of a manpower.»

Sections of course EG:
1) theoretical bases;
2) placing of branch complexes;
3) the territorial organisation n/х;
4) foreign economic relations.

EG studies the listed directions in time and space both on the country as a whole, and at smaller territorial levels: local, regional, national and international» (Voronin V.V., 1997, v.1, p. 15)

The spatial aspect means that any object is fixed in territory which defines its properties, conditions, development ways; time - eventually any object changes, as well as territory on which it is fixed.

EG studies placing of productive forces according to relations of production. Productive forces - means of labor, objects of the labor and the people setting them in motion.

Communication EG with the general economic theory, branch economy, statistics, economic forecasting and other related subjects.
Methodological basis EG is the system approach.

Methods are ways of research, ways of studying of object.

General scientific methods are applied in the sciences having related (or close) object or a subject. Such are: historical, descriptive, quantitative estimations, balance, standard, statistical and others. Specific methods has developed and applies itself EG:

1) the cartographical;

2) economic division into districts,

3) economic-geografichesoke position (EGP);

4) power-production cycles (Kolosovskij N.N.),

5) territorial and production complexes (TPK). (Khruschev, introduction)

Components of a geographical science:

Natural Physical geography: a land Hydrology, Oceanology, Klimatologija, Botanical geography, Zoological geography.

Public Economic and social geography: Geography of branches, Military geography, Medical geography, Political geography, population Geography

The social geography includes population geography (a demography and movings), geography of a way of life, a standard of living, style and quality of a life, behaviour geography, culture and recreation geography (rest and tourism). Saychkin and Baransky (the Russian social geography).

Economic geography and related disciplines: regional economy, economy of regions and others connected with knowledge of regions.
Directions of development of a science:

1. Politicization.

2. Sociology.

3. rational nature using.

4. Computerization (digital electronic cards, use of mathematical methods (Methodical instructions on term papers – the separate chapter).

Problems of development of a science:

1. Studying of already developed placing of productive forces.

2. Studying of a problematic of development of area, construction of the forecast of its development.

3. Comparison of available placing of productive forces with scientifically-proved, rational. Search of an optimum variant of placing.

5th historical stage: since 1992 (the amendment to Voronin).

The Russian Federation – the largest state on a planet. It occupies a part of the Eastern Europe and Northern Asia, is washed by waters of the seas of three oceans, and also Caspian sea (lake). Borders on 14 states, on the sea with Japan and the USA. The Russian Federation has various climatic zones – belts (Arctic, subarctic, moderated), various types of soils from tundra to chernozem.

Northern country. The greatest on territory - 17 million in sq. km (1/9 land of the earth, all world - 149). The USSR – 1/6 part of the world, 22 million in sq. km. The population of the Russian Federation on 1.01.2009г. – 141,9 million people (to remember – more than 140 million people)

There are various opinions on an estimation of parities of Soviet Union (USSR) and Russia (Russian Federation). First, consideration of the USSR as on-national formations which disintegration has led to creation of the independent national states, including to Russia. That is as a result of disintegration of the USSR Russia has found independence, and the fact of disintegration of Soviet Union is estimated positively.

Other point of view that, the USSR was the actual receiver of the Russian empire in its natural borders. Then it is necessary to consider the USSR as the form of existence of the Russian statehood with 1922 for 1991, and disintegration of the USSR is considered as disintegration of the Russia, branch from it suburbs.

The country government is carried out through concrete forms of the administrative-territorial device (ATY=ATD) which is stated in item 5 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. АTY Russian Federation the most difficult in the world.

To 1.12.2005 years – 89, and since 1.03.2008 - 84 administrative and territorial units (subjects of federation, regions): 21 republic, 9 edges, 46 areas, 1 autonomous region (Jewish), 5 autonomous regions, 2 cities of federal submission (Moscow, St.-Petersburg) (the appendix 1 more in detail see). Speaking in images Russia it is possible to compare to a school class in which 84 pupils, and absolutely different in age and preparation level are together trained. Presentation ATY.

Except ATY it is possible to allocate following forms of a territorial administration with the country: 1) economic region (ER) (11+Kaliningrad area); 2) Inter-regional associations of business cooperation; 3) Federal districts (7); 4) departmental division into districts or presence of territorial controls of the ministries and departments. For example, 8 military districts MO of the Russian Federation, 17 managements of railways of Open Society «Russian railways».

Principles and factors of the administrative-territorial device

PRINCIPLE (from an armour. principium - the beginning - basis), 1) basic position of any theory, the doctrine, a science, outlook, the political organisation. 2) the internal belief of the person defining it the relation to the validity, a norm of behaviour and activity. 3) a basis of the device or action of any device, the car, etc.
The FACTOR (from an armour. factor - doing - making), the reason, motive power of any process, the phenomenon, defining its character or its separate lines.

Principles:

1. The optimum geometrical form of administrative-territorial formations (ATO=АТЕ). "Circle" - theoretically, «hexagon» - practically.
2. Coincidence of the administrative and geometrical centre – «efficiency of the centre».
3. Competitiveness of the centre: from any subordinate centre ATO should be closer to the centre ATO, than to the next.
The three first principle provide one general: «the maximum approach of territorial governing bodies to the population and an economy».
4. Optimum number subordinate АТО – «hexagons» from 7 to 37. «hexagon»
5. The minimum distinctions in the basic social and economic indexes one-serial АТО: on a population, VPR, to incomes and budget expenses, a population standard of living.
6. Self-sufficiency (self-sufficiency, self-support) АТО. Excess of incomes of budget АТО over expenses.

Factors:

1. Natural geographical (a relief, a river network, the form of a coastal line, natural zoning, ecological conditions – a wind rose, etc.).
2. Historical. (Romania and Moldova – one people, two countries; the Western part of the Orenburg region – the former district centers of the Samara province).
3. National-religious (ethnic and confessions). (Serbs-Croats-bosnijtsy; Georgians-adzharians).
4. Economic. Economic unity of territory. Economic division into districts or economic specialisation of territory. Transport and communication development.
5. Demographic. Population moving. City and agricultural population. A role of cities. Natural and mechanical inflow (decrease) of the population.
6. Social. A level of development of sphere of service.
7. Political. «… consecutive realisation of problems of real democracy, local government, creation of conditions for active participation of citizens in management of the state and public affairs. »

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