Head: Ryabova Larisa, PhD (Econ.)
Tel:(815 55) 79 506
e-mail: larissar@kolasc.net.ru


Lines of investigations:

    Social policy in the northern regions, social transformations in the regions and local communities in the light of globalization, living standard, demographical processes, labour and health protection policy, social security and housing reforms, social studies of living standards.


Staff:
Ryabova Larisa, PhD (Econ.), head of the department
Gushchina Irina, PhD (Econ.), head of the sector of social studies
Korchak Anatoliy, PhD (Econ.), senior researcher
Toichkina Valentina, senior researcher
Novikova Nadezhda, researcher
Toropushina Ekaterina, junior researcher
Korchak Elena, junior researcher
Vinogradova S.N., junior researcher


Main completed research projects:

   Social processes in the North: control in a market context (1998- 2000).

   The project provided the estimation of social development in the northern regions, also the matters of labor relations management in the North under market conditions were examined (responsible executor - Korchak A.D., PhD (Econ.)), the matters of local social changes in a context of globalization were studied (responsible executor - Ryabova L.A., PhD (Econ.)). The project suggests further improvement of social policy in the northern regions of the Russian Federation.

   Social processes in the euro-Arctic region in the light of globalization (2000-2003).

   The project contains comparative studies of social processes in the Barents Euro-Arctic region. Methodological and methodical aspects of globalization on regional and local levels were given consideration. Research in this field has followed along many lines: social processes and globalization; manpower and population movement control and transformation of educational infrastructure.

   International project Management of Social Transformations Circumpolar Coping Processes Project (1996 - 2003)

   This long-term project was fulfilled under the aegis of UNESCO with participation of researchers from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Russia, the USA and Canada. It pursued the ways for introduction of social innovations to the arctic areas and support of sustainable development of local communities. International comparative studies of crisis alternatives originating from rapid social transformations and globalization were carried out. Ryabova L.A. was a member of the Coordinative Committee and participant of an international research group. Research data were published in English and Russian.

    Russian -Norwegian project: "Institutional changes in the forest sector of the Murmansk region", (1999- 2002).

   The project was carried out jointly with the Norwegian Institute for Urban Researches (NIBR). The object was to study and understand the consequences of institutional changes in the forest sector of the Murmansk region and to find out the dynamics and alternatives for sustainable development in the northern regions and local communities. Ryabova L.A. was a participant of an international research group. Research data were published in English and Russian.

   Russian-Norwegian project "Life style and public health in the Murmansk region" (1999 - 2002).

    The project was carried out jointly with the Norwegian Institute for Urban Researches (NIBR) and the institute for international studies Fafo. The life style and public health in the Murmansk region were studied. The project dealt with such issues as nutrition, alcohol consumption, smoking, stress and security at a work place and brought to light the main problems in the mode of living of the Murmansk region and possible solutions.

   The Russian part was represented by Ryabova L.A.

   From these studies a book was published with the title "Trying to be strong: Studies of economical and cultural influences on the choice of a living mode and usage of public health institutions in the Murmansk region" (in Russian and in English).


Current research subject:

    Management of Social Transformations in the Northern Region in the Context of Globalization (2004 - 2006).

    One of the major goals of this study is the quest for new tasks and instruments of the regional social policy. The feed back mechanism, which enables authorities to adequately comprehend and opportunely react to social changes, became an important part of the investigation. Such mechanism is a necessary requirement for qualitative progress in various spheres of life. The emphasis within this project is made on sociological studies, which present a major source of information during rapid social changes. The theoretical aspects of social diagnostics are to be examined and applied studies in the Murmansk region are to be fulfilled.