Subject The article considers the problems of single-industry towns in the Russian Federation, where the economic activities of different levels of competitiveness are concentrated, like metallurgy, machine-building, light and food industry, the textile industry. This results in a high level of differentiation of the towns' socio-economic development. Objectives The paper aims to develop and test methodological tools for assessing the competitiveness of single-industry towns. Methods Our technique of estimation of the competitiveness of single-industry towns is based on the determination of blocks of development indicators of economy, finance, labor resources, social sphere, demography, the industry. The calculation technique apparatus involves standardization of statistical indicators based on the variation scope, calculation of private and integral competitiveness indexes of towns. Results We determined the various levels of competitiveness of various single-industry towns, and we note certain causes of the level difference. Relevance The results obtained can be applied in scientific research to assess the competitiveness of single-industry towns, by municipal authorities to develop programs of socio-economic development of towns, and can also be used in developing a regional model for forecasting of the socio-economic development of towns.
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