Saint Petersburg in the post-Soviet time: economic strategies and development

This paper studies the main features and results of economic development of Saint Petersburg in the post-Soviet period. The purpose was to determine the extent of influence of urban development on the results of development of Saint Petersburg during this period. The method used in this study consists in the processing of a large array of statistical and analytical materials and regulatory framework; determination of the mutual relationship between the achieved results and the implementation of the program-planning documents that define the objectives, priorities and tasks of socio-economic development of Saint Petersburg. In the course of work the authors highlighted seven key stages in the development of the city's economy for the past 22 years, and six stages of development of the socio-economic planning system. The research into the specifics of Saint Petersburg economy within these stages shows that external conditions have a decisive influence on the results of its economic development. The results of this work can be used for improving the practice of state and municipal management, including the implementation of socio-economic development planning of regions and cities of Russia. The study concluded that the cycles of updating of the program-planning documents and changing approaches to public planning are set in Saint Petersburg rather from the outside, and they are connected with changes in the external conditions for development. The elaboration of urban strategic, conceptual and other program-planning documents has an insignificant impact on the development of the city.