STEPAN ZEMTSOV: “DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN YAROSLAVL REGION BASED ON PUBLIC OPINION IS A SMART GOVERNMENT SOLUTION”

Stepan Zemtsov, Senior researcher, Innovation Economics Department at the Gaidar Institute, supported the idea to involve general public towards articulation of a regional development strategy for the Yaroslavl region. This was told by the "Club of Regions". Stepan Zemzov highlighted that this activity is a part of any smart strategy.

“This is an absolutely correct approach, which makes it possible to verify our hypotheses. For example, we think that we need to build a bridge at this place or “manhattanize” everything. However, people may not think so. Alternatively, we decide to build a very large chemical plant, but people will gently ask to move it to a less populated area. Such examples, when the population does not agree with the ideas of strategy developers, will always persist”, Stepan Zemtsov believes.