DISPARITIES IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC ZONE REGIONS.

The paper provides the study of specific spatial conditions of rural development of Arctic zone regions in Russia during 2000 - 2015. The aim of the paper is to propose the methodology for rural development disparities study in the Russian Arctic. Spatial development of the Arctic is described by a system of indicators, reflecting the system of the resettlement, the level and quality of life: total population size, life expectancy at birth, housing stock etc. The extent and nature of disparities, particularly, social and economic disparities within the rural territories of the Arctic are explained. The assessment has been based on min-max ratio, coefficient of variation as well as Gini index. Eliminating excessive spatial differences in the social development of urban and rural territories of Arctic regions, improving the demographic situation, raising the level and quality of life of the population should be seen as a priority of the state policy in the Arctic in order to make it attractive for living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]