City of the Future’: prospects and challenges

Abstract

On January 17, 2018 on the Gaidar Forum, held at The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, the Russian and French sides discussed the problems of cities of the future and urbanization. Speech by the Moscow Chief Architect Sergei Kuznetsov at the section ‘Trianon Dialogue: The City of the Future' was a notable event at one of the first landmark events of the Forum - a platform for bilateral cooperation between civil societies between Russia and France. The corresponding agreement was signed during the talks of Russian President Vladimir Putin with French President Emmanuel Macron in May last year. The article deals with social, economic, transport, ethnopolitical and environmental aspects of the life of modern megacities and small towns, as well as the specific nature of mono-towns. For a country's economy, well-managed urbanization brings more pluses than minuses. The compactness of people's living and the diversity of the population can stimulate innovation and create new jobs. The ties between cities historically form the basis of global trade, and by reducing the need for transport, the economy becomes more environmentally friendly. With the help of urban studies, factors that affect the quality of life of urban residents were clearly identified, and, most importantly, how to improve it. The question is efficient transport infrastructure, medicine, education, security, cultural life, quality housing, etc.