The Cittaslow concept as a promising direction for the development of small and medium-sized cities in Russia

In modern conditions requiring rational use of resources, increasing the efficiency of management of small and medium-sized cities is a complex and multifaceted task facing public authorities. The study considered the possibility of solving it based on foreign experience in this area. The works of domestic and foreign scientists on the problem of the development of small and medium-sized cities built the methodological basis of the study. The purpose of the study is to analyze foreign approaches to the development of small and medium-sized cities and determine the possibility of their implementation in relation to Russian small and medium-sized cities using the example of the Sverdlovsk region. The authors studied foreign concepts of 15-minute city, Walkable city, Land recycling and Slow city (Cittaslow), their key idea and main directions of implementation. The Cittaslow concept was chosen to assess the possibility of implementation in domestic practice. Unlike the others considered, it is represented by a wide geography of implementation, including in Russia (Svetlogorsk city). The authors developed an original methodology to assess the possibility of using the Cittaslow concept, which was tested in a number of small and medium-sized cities in the Sverdlovsk region. Based on the results obtained, recommendations are given for planning the further socio-economic development of the studied municipalities.