System of Strategic Planning for Social and Economic Development of Russian Regions: New Objects, Methods and Organizational Solutions

The article discusses the main problems of the current system of strategic planning in the Russian Federation, existing at the federal, macro-regional and regional levels. The substantive limitations of planning documents, their insufficient interconnection and hierarchy, the emergence of new strategic documents not provided for by law (doctrines, policy frameworks, national projects, development initiatives, complex investment projects) are noted. The congestion of the planning system with program documents is shown, which reduces the effectiveness of the use of program-target planning methods. The article raises the question of the ratio of directive and indicative elements in the strategic planning documents being developed. The measures proposed by Russian specialists to improve the system of planning documents, in particular, to develop five-year plans for socio-economic development at the federal and regional levels, were assessed. The authors proposed to expand the horizon and the range of objects of territorial strategic planning, including new objects – urban agglomerations, mineral resource centers, macroregions, closely integrated economic complexes of cities-subjects of the federation (Moscow, St. Petersburg) and the surrounding regions. Recommendations have been developed for the formation of specialized territorial planning authorities in them, formed on a collegial multilateral basis. The expediency of including representatives of public organizations, the business community, and independent experts in the development procedures for all types of planning documents is shown. The article focuses on the need to apply technical capabilities in planning procedures and calculations, which are provided by rapidly developing information technologies, computers, and communications. They ensure the processing of large arrays of initial information, the complexity and multifactorial nature of analytics, prompt adjustment of plans, online control over the implementation of planned tasks, etc.