Andrey Andreyevich Kukharenko, Vladimir Ivanovich Gayduk, Oleg Bunchikov
The article presents the methodology and results of an integrated assessment of the socio-economic state of rural areas using the example of municipalities in the Krasnodar Region. The research is based on the existing methodology, supplemented by the authors with procedures for determining and applying weighted coefficients for each of the 19 analyzed indicators. The weighted coefficients were established empirically through surveys of rural residents, which made it possible to account for the subjective importance of various aspects of their lives. During the seven stages of the research, the standardization of indicators, the calculation of partial and integral indices, and the final identification of 44 municipalities by types of socio-economic status have been carried out. The detailed comparative analysis of the territories by economic (industry, agriculture, finance, wage levels) and social (education, healthcare, social support, consumer services) groups of indicators has been carried out. The research results revealed significant polarization: the dominance of urban districts in terms of economic indicators and a more mosaic picture in the social sphere, where leadership often belongs to rural areas. Practical recommendations aimed at reducing inter-territorial disparities, supporting the agricultural sector, and modernizing social infrastructure in rural areas have been formulated. The materials can be used by regional authorities to adjust spatial development strategies.