– Our twelfth conference is dedicated to spatial development matters. We place them in a wide context: this first of all means the socio-economic system of the Russian society, which currently finds itself in a difficult situation. There are many questions for which there are now no clear and straightforward answers, so scientific inquiry is certainly crucial, – said Director of the Institute of Economics KarRC RAS, Doctor of Economy Tatyana Morozova in her opening speech.

The participants were welcomed by KarRC RAS Director General, RAS Corr. Academician Olga Bakhmet.

– Special development matters are essential for the development of any system of any country, but they are especially relevant now. The fact that this conference is a research to practice one is grossly important. We aim at getting insights into the ongoing processes and into what will follow, including predictive assessments. This is necessary for the scientific community as well as for the authorities and for a wide range of other stakeholders, – the Centre’s leader stressed.

This conference, organized by the Institute of Economics KarRC RAS, is named after Konstantin Arsenyev (1789–1865), researcher, statistician, educationist, historian, and statesman. In 1812–1813, he worked in Petrozavodsk, studying the region’s industry and the history of the Olonets metal works. “Konstantin Ivanovich Arsenyev dedicated a substantial part of his life to promoting the development of Karelia and northern territories. ” «Константин Иванович Арсеньев существенную часть жизни посвятил развитию Карелии и северных территорий. That is why we in a way consider ourselves to be successors of these ideas, research practices, and activities», – Tatyana Morozova explained.



Konstantin Arsenyev was among the founders of the Russian Geographical Society in 1845. On behalf of the RGO, the conference organizers and participants were greeted on its first day by Nikolai Filatov, RAS Corr. Academician, Chief Researcher at the Geology and Hydrology Laboratory of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS, Head of the Karelian Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.

– Konstantin Ivanovich was a wonderful person and an outstanding personality. He has worked in Karelia, produced lots of writings, authored a geography textbook that was reprinted 30 times. The fact we are all here for this conference is crucial for perpetuating the memory of this man. Konstantin Arsenyev rests in peace in Karelia – there is a modest plaque in the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. A small street in the Drevlyanka district of Petrozavodsk is named after him. Yet, I think he deserves more. There is an idea to create an exhibition section in the National Museum of Karelia so that not only scientists but also local people and guests of the republic are aware of his outstanding deeds, – Nikolai Filatov told.

The conference brings together scientists specializing in different fields of knowledge: economists, philosophers, sociologists, historians, and geographers. It is supported by the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research KarRC RAS, Karelian Statistics Agency, Petrozavodsk State University, and the Karelian Branch of the Russian Geographical Society. The 12th Arsenyev’s Readings are a regional event within the Moscow Academic Economic Forum. The participants were also greeted on the conference opening by Deputy Director of the Institute of North European and Arctic Research of the Petrozavodsk State University Valery Shlyamin and Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Industry of the Republic of Karelia Ekaterina Vinogradova.

— This is an important event for the region and a real chance to channel the scientific aspirations of specialists towards the socio-economic development of the republic. Important topics for discussion have been announced: tourism, digital economy, development of Arctic territories. The development of these spheres is supported by the Government of the Republic of Karelia as well as the Russian Federation Government, – Ekaterina Vinogradova remarked.



The first keynote lecturer was Vladimir Maevsky, RAS Academician, Director of the Center for Institutional and Evolutionary Economics and Applied Problems of Reproduction of the RAS Institute of Economics. “Arsenyev’s Readings have become a hallmark event of the Institute of Economics and the Karelian Research Centre RAS in general”, – he proclaimed in the introduction to his talk.

The conference agenda includes two plenary session and four thematic sessions: “Tourism today”, “Socio-economic development of Northern and Arctic regions”, “Digitalization in the modern society”, “Spatial development statistics”. Their participants will be specialists from both Russian and foreign universities and scientific organizations.