Comparative Researches on Strategic Priorities of Russian Megalopolises and Global Cities

Abstract

The article analyzes the comparative tools of methodology of global cities assessment, used in the world and Russian practice that allow conducting comparative research on life quality of world cities and trends in their strategic orientations. The authors studied the world's largest and most prestigious rankings of global cities - GaWC, A.T. Kearney (Global city Index, Global city Outlook), Mercer, Economist, the purpose of rating, their target audience and the possibility of application, the main indicators and used methods of measurement, human development index of Russian regions, prepared by UN experts. According to the results of conjugate analysis of the index of human potential in Russian regions and the integrated indicator of life quality in Russian megalopolises, including indicators of urban environment comfort, the authors classified Russian megalopolises to allow estimating the level of their development, to identify priority trends to develop strategic orientations. The article presents the results of comparing targets of the development strategies of Russian megalopolises, indicators that identify inclusion of Russian megalopolises and foreign sister cities in the world rankings. On the example of St. Petersburg the authors compared targets of socio-economic development strategy of city and the key ranking indicators of world leading consulting company and illustrated the results in the article.