Urban settlement size trends in the former USSR: 1970-1989

"Based upon recently published data, this paper investigates urban settlement size trends in the former USSR and its republics during the intercensal periods of 1970-1979 and 1979-1989. Results indicate that although a trend toward largeness of the Soviet urban hierarchy continues, a slowing in this direction has occurred. Among republics, all had an increasing trend towards largeness on at least one and usually all three summary measures of urban settlement size structure. The RSFSR [Russia] and Armenia especially consistently evidenced a relatively high degree of largeness, while the former Baltic republics generally revealed a relative smallness."     

Declining towns in Russia, 1989-1993

This "article based on data for the last census of the former USSR and population estimates for 1993 for urban places of over 15,000 population in the Russian Federation surveys the regional distribution, economic functions, and size characteristics of urban settlements in Russia with declining population over the period 1989-93. Interesting comparisons are drawn with patterns prevailing during previous periods, revealing recent increases in the number of such towns in major manufacturing regions and the North and an increase in the number of large cities. Towns experiencing the very greatest percentage declines (-10.0 percent or more) also are investigated."     

Selected urban population characteristics of Moscow

"This paper investigates total and regional population characteristics in Moscow [Russia] during 1979-1989, specifically nationality, age, sex and education and their interrelationships. Population dynamics of Russians, Ukrainians, Jews, and, to a lesser extent, other groups are examined based on a regionalization scheme dividing the city into Inner Zone and Outer Zone [regions]. The same spatial framework is employed in an analysis of changes in the age and sex structures of the city's overall population, as well as in levels of education. Linkages between these characteristics and rates of housing construction, recent demographic history, and city migration policy are explored."     

Declining towns in the former USSR

"The paper comprises an update of an earlier study...focused on towns with declining population during the 1959-1970 period. Based on recently published data on individual urban centers with 15,000 or more inhabitants reported in the 1979 and 1989 censuses, it identifies centers where population declined from 1970 to 1989. The study also assesses selected geographical aspects, economic functions, and size characteristics of such urban centers. Comparisons with data from the 1959-1970 period are made to arrive at a 30-year perspective."