Since the 1990s, Russia (the former Soviet Union, FSU) has undergone radical institutional transformation and drastic economic, political, and social changes. These changes have resulted in complex transformations of the urban land-use patterns. We extracted four major urban land-use classes (residential, industrial, social well-being, and green land) before (1987) and after (2015) the transformation of St. Petersburg. In particular, we focused on residential and industrial land use. In the core and peripheral areas of St. Petersburg, we calculated the percentage of each land-use class and conducted spatial pattern analyses for 1987 and 2015. Specifically, we measured the degree of interspersion/juxtaposition, aggregation and contagion for the major land-use classes in the study area. Results indicated that St. Petersburg experienced significant urban land restructuring from 1987 to 2015. While the city retained some urban land structure from before FSU, it showed trajectories of urban development similar to those of developed counties in Western Europe. The FSU period was the main stage of the outward expansion of urban administrative boundaries. The process of deindustrialization in the urban core during the post-Soviet Union period lagged behind other international cities. The most significant change in the urban land-use pattern was suburbanization in the peripheral area. The suburbanization of St. Petersburg was different from that of other developed countries in that it had its own unique characteristics, both in the residential style and in the resident class. Russia's institutional transformation had strong impacts on urban land-use patterns in the post-Soviet Union period, thus providing a rich practical and theoretical basis for analyzing new models of urban land-use change.

At the turn of the XX-XXI centuries, post-socialist cities of Europe experienced an active transformation of their socio-demographic and economic structure. A striking feature of post-Soviet cities was the preservation of the disproportionate weight of industry in the economy against the background of a long absence of the real estate market. This phenomenon highlighted the need to solve the problems of socio-economic inequality within the city and restructuring its economy. This is especially true for Russian cities experiencing the shifts in the territorial structure of the population under the influence of transition to market economy, the third industrial revolution and the change of economic- geographical location. This study focuses on identifying trends in the social segmentation of the urban space of St. Petersburg as the second largest city in Russia and a socio-economic center of national importance. The social stratification of the city was studied at the grassroots administrative and territorial level based on the assessment of spatial distribution and the formation of territorial groups of the population with certain qualitative characteristics. The object of the study was 111 municipalities of St. Petersburg. The dynamics of their five most important indicators of demographic, social and economic development in 1989–2018 was analyzed: real estate tax on individuals per capita; the proportion of entrepreneurs; own incomes of municipalities per inhabitant; the proportion of people with an academic degree; cost of housing. Using the rank method, a social welfare rating was compiled. Information for the study was taken from the materials of the general urban planes of St. Petersburg in 1966, 1987 and 2005, the All-Russian population censuses of 2002 and 2010, the databases of the Federal State Statistics Service and the Federal Tax Service, and from the real estate «CIAN» company. The increasing social segregation by income was revealed. The existing differentiation of municipalities in terms of welfare is shown. The poorest are the municipalities of the southern part of the city (Kolpinsky, Nevsky, Krasnoselsky districts and Kronshtadt), while the most prosperous are the municipalities of Petrograd and Central districts, as well as certain territories of the municipal district of Moskovskaya Zastava, the villages of Komarovo, Repino and Solnechnoe.

This article presents an original method of assessing the influence of the factor of transborder clustering on the economic and demographic dynamics of the Leningrad oblast territories. It is shown that the economic potential is primarily focused in towns (especially in district centers), as well as in rural settlements neighboring St. Petersburg. Amid the crisis trends evident since summer—autumn 2014, the majority of settlements hosting the components of transborder clusters (in areas such as shipbuilding, machinery industry, wood processing, pharmaceuticals industry, IT technology, etc.) increased their tax base and, at the same time, showed a positive demographic dynamics; the clusters themselves in this generally adverse situation (in the presence of currency and finance turbulence, opposition to sanctions, and, consequently, a reduction in export and import operations), demonstrate an ability to adapt and represent a significant factor of the territory’s socioeconomic resistance.

The study aims to identify and analyse the dynamics of "propulsive industries", considered as drivers of economic growth and stabilizers of economic security of the regions of Russia's Western borderland in the period of geopolitical turbulence (2013-2018). We are particularly interested in the identification of industries regarded as drivers of regional economic growth during the crisis of the Russia's economy and its individual regions. The article presents the results of a study, supported by the grant of Russian Science Foundation No. 18-17-00112 "Ensuring the Economic Safety of Russia's Western Borderlands amid of Geopolitical Turbulence" and by the grant No. 18-310-20016 of Russian Foundation for Basic Research. "Propulsive industries" are characterised by a high level of the adaptation of technologies, and export and innovation potential, which determine the fifth and sixth technological order. The state and dynamics of these industries support region's economic security and the level of competitiveness, especially under difficult conditions of geopolitical turbulence (2013-2018). We conducted analysis based on data on net value added, produced by the main types of economic activity. Then, we assessed value added for enterprises and organisations subject to value added tax in the regions of Russia's Western borderland. Thus, the study is based on tax statistics provided in the reports of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation. We selected and substantiated some types of activity as the "propulsion industries" that determine the economic security, and region's export and innovation potential. They include "production of medicines and materials used for medical purposes", "production of computers, electronic and optical products", "production of aircrafts, including spacecraft, and related equipment", "information and communication activities" and "professional, scientific and technical activities". The study's statistical and quantitative base is built on data on value added tax (VAT). Based on these data, we calculated the net value added for the main types of economic activity produced by enterprises and organisations subject to VAT. The study has shown that the industry "Production of computers, electronic and optical products" is propulsive for the majority of the regions of Western borderland. The research results will be reflected in the implementation of our team's fundamental developments, including the projects of Russian Science Foundation and Russian Foundation for Basic Research.

Socioeconomic development in cities and towns is a complex and multifactor phenomenon with various dimensions and evaluation criteria. One of the simplest and most available indicators of a situation in the economic and social sphere is population size dynamics. Using the towns of Leningrad oblast as an example, we analyzed how the 2014–2016 crisis events in the Russian economy affected the population dynamics. Starting from the 1980s, the towns of Leningrad oblast have been developing multidirectionally—in some towns, the population has decreased consistently, while in other towns it has increased; some towns have exhibited stagnation. These differences have been preserved so far, but the rate of increase and decrease in the population, largely driven by migration processes, vary significantly depending on changes in the country’s economy. As a result of the study, we found that the switch in the trend of demographic development amid rapid changes in the rate of economic increase is not peculiar to all towns. We studied different scenarios of the population dynamics in the towns of Leningrad oblast during 2011–2017, and we managed to distinguish several types of urban-type settlements. Based on an analysis of territorial features of the locations of towns, we have proposed an explanation for the differences in their persistence to crisis events in the Russian economy.

One of the key manifestations of globalisation is an increase in the spatial mobility of population involving growing numbers of people into international migration processes. This article is an attempt to assess the density of migration connections between European states based on the 1990—2015 quantitative data. An analysis of migration flows and relevant net migration and net migration and migration localisation at the national and regional levels makes it possible to identify key trends in the spatial and temporal transformation of this phenomenon on the European continent. Calculations suggest that an increase in migration has not narrowed the gap between source and recipient countries but, on the contrary, it has made it more pronounced over the recent decades. The article presents an attempt at classifying European countries by the direction and intensity of migration connections and stresses the impact of international migration on the demographic and sociocultural situation in different European states.

Cities form the backbone of human civilization, but only 600 of them become centers of world development. A special elite club consists of 183 world cities (according to Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) methodology), which represent the network substance of the globalized geoeconomic space. It is cities that lay down the global policy agenda, determine guidelines of economic management, and generate innovations and technological or consumer impulses. Intensive transformations take place in million-plus cities that affect the structure of the economy, urban space, and public realms. Most of these trends reflect processes that have affected most of the modern urbanized world. Study of the millionplus cities yields great opportunities for geographers. St. Petersburg, which is one of the world cities (gamma+), is experiencing a period of internal transformation within the paradigm change of economic development. Like other world cities, St. Petersburg has entered the postindustrial stage of development. This paper studies and interprets St. Petersburg’s main economic, territorial, and spatial transformation trends. In fact, the city is a testing ground for studying global urban trends in Russian practice. Particular attention is devoted to the remaining old post-Soviet features and the those of a new world city.

The authors explores the interdependence between demographic changes and transport network centrality, using Saint Petersburg as an example. The article describes the demographic data for the period 2002-2015 and the transportation network data of 2006. The authors employ several methods of demographic research; they identified the centre of gravity of the population, produce the standard deviational ellipsis and use the kernel density estimation. The street network centrality of Saint Petersburg was analyzed using the Multiple Centrality Assessment Model (MCA) and the Urban Network Analysis Tool for ArcGIS. The analysis of the population distribution in Saint Petersburg shows that each area of the city has seen their population grow over the last thirteen years. However, it is the population of suburban areas that increased the most. The core area of the city has the tendency of outward diffusion, and the population gravity centre has been moving northwards. Spatial characteristics of the population growth, changes in the population gravity centre, the standard deviational ellipse and characteristics of the street network centrality show that Saint Petersburg is at the final stage of urbanization and its development pattern is similar to that of other major cities.

In recent decades, the role of international migration has increased dramatically in most European countries. The growth in migration has made some authors proclaim the beginning of a second Migration Period that could transform the social and cultural identity of Europe. The article presents an analysis of international migration geography in Europe in the last twenty-five years. The authors identify the main trends in migration, provide migration profiles of European countries, and propose a classification based on the recent changes in the migrant stock. Changes in the migrant stock (total emigration and immigration) reflect the level of involvement in international and global processes. They can serve as an indicator of a country’s attractiveness for both foreigners and the country’s citizens. The study shows that European countries are increasingly split into ‘immigrant’ and ‘emigrant’ states. The authors describe spatial patterns of migration. The volume and localisation of migration flows in Europe are affected not only by cultural and historical circumstance, such as a colonial past or a common language. The scale of immigrant influx often does not depend on a donor country’s demographic potential or the level of its socio-economic development. The links between the place of origin and destination are often more complex than it might initially seem. The authors stress the importance of a differentiated immigration policy taking into account ethnic and cultural features of host societies.

One of the key manifestations of globalisation is an increase in the spatial mobility of population involving growing numbers of people into international migration processes.This article is an attempt to assess the density of migration connections between European states based on the 1990-2015 quantitative data.An analysis of migration flows and relevant net migration and net migration and migration localisation at the national and regional levels makes it possible to identify key trends in the spatial and temporal transformation of this phenomenon on the European continent.Calculations suggest that an increase in migration has not narrowed the gap between countries of origin and destination countries but, on the contrary, it has made it more pronounced over the recent decades.The article presents an attempt at classifying European countries by the direction and intensity of migration connections and stresses the impact of international migration on the demographic and sociocultural situation in different European states.

The authors explores the interdependence between demographic changes and transport network centrality, using Saint Petersburg as an example. The article describes the demographic data for the period 2002—2015 and the transportation network data of 2006. The authors employ several methods of demographic research; they identified the centre of gravity of the population, produce the standard deviational ellipsis and use the kernel density estimation. The street network centrality of Saint Petersburg was analyzed using the Multiple Centrality Assessment Model (MCA) and the Urban Network Analysis Tool for ArcGIS. The analysis of the population distribution in Saint Petersburg shows that each area of the city has seen their population grow over the last thirteen years. However, it is the population of suburban areas that increased the most. The core area of the city has the tendency of outward diffusion, and the population gravity centre has been moving northwards. Spatial characteristics of the population growth, changes in the population gravity centre, the standard deviational ellipse and characteristics of the street network centrality show that Saint Petersburg is at the final stage of urbanization and its development pattern is similar to that of other major cities.

In recent decades, the role of international migration has increased dramatically in most European countries. The growth in migration has made some authors proclaim the beginning of a second Migration Period that could transform the social and cultural identity of Europe. The article presents an analysis of international migration geography in Europe in the last twenty-five years. The authors identify the main trends in migration, provide migration profiles of European countries, and propose a classification based on the recent changes in the migrant stock. Changes in the migrant stock (total emigration and immigration) reflect the level of involvement in international and global processes. They can serve as an indicator of a country's attractiveness for both foreigners and the country's citizens. The study shows that European countries are increasingly split into 'immigrant' and 'emigrant' states. The authors describe spatial patterns of migration. The volume and localisation of migration flows in Europe are affected not only by cultural and historical circumstance, such as a colonial past or a common language. The scale of immigrant influx often does not depend on a donor country's demographic potential or the level of its socio-economic development. The links between the place of origin and destination are often more complex than it might initially seem. The authors stress the importance of a differentiated immigration policy taking into account ethnic and cultural features of host societies.