Abstract:

The paper proves the necessity to invest into the human in order to be settled in the Arctic and to compete for the resources there. We first review theoretical concepts of quality-of-life with circumpolar-specific frameworks. The social and demographic sphere of the Arctic regions may be described by a set of indicators covering different aspects of quality-of-life: health, education, material well-being and housing. The system of social and demographic indicators of Arctic regions is analyzed. The fixed effect model of regional migration in eight Russian Arctic regions from 1997 to 2013 indicates that real incomes, number of doctors, housing availability and unemployment levels have substantial effects. Eliminating excessive spatial differences in the social development of Arctic regions should be seen as a priority of the state policy in the Arctic in order to make it attractive for living.