Economic Transition and Development in the Russian Arctic: The Cases of Norilsk and Igarka
Open AccessThe purpose of this research was to assess the history and trajectory of post-Soviet economic transition in the cities of Norilsk and Igarka, Russia. The project was carried out using a synthesis of field research, interviews, and secondary literature to create a comprehensive overview. This project hypothesized that the social and economic success of Russian Arctic cities cannot be correlated to the economic value of their outputs alone, rather that the intersection of the historical development, geographic accessibility, economic basis, and political connections contributes primarily to the status of the cities.In Igarka, severe economic downturn and the collapse of the local timber industry has hampered the city's transition to a market economy. Political changes to tax structure and transit subsidies have further exacerbated these difficulties, leading to massive population decline and urban decay. Local energy development presents an opportunity to redevelop the city to a certain extent, though the level of economic benefit is unclear. In Norilsk, local industry has prospered through strong governmental connections and a high value product. Despite this, the city itself has declined due to the withdrawal of the city's industry from social responsibility programs. Norilsk has also declined in population, and the city receives little benefit from its industry. The comparison of the two cities emphasizes the continuing importance of political connections on the development trajectory of Arctic cities. Finally, the thesis examines the potential for climate change to alter the economic status of the region, with changing accessibility and increasing political focus being the major dynamics. The author concludes that urban transition in the Russian Arctic has been a complex process, and that the shifting dynamics due to climate change will be the primary influence on furthering economic transition in the region.
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