Abstract: Currently, the development of urban agglomerations is recognized as one of the key prerequisites for accelerating the economic growth of large-scale economic systems. The study is devoted to the conceptual foundations of this process. The author considers the logic of the organization and development of agglomerations; identifies the features of the functioning of agglomerations in modern conditions; studies the principles that should underlie their development. The work is based on the use of data from the Federal State Statistics Service, and its methodological base includes general scientific methods of theoretical and empirical cognition. It is shown that a significant aspect of the functioning of the agglomeration is the close relationship between its elements. The importance of this aspect is also proved by the results of the analysis of the functioning of the Yekaterinburg urban agglomeration, which is characterized by the redistribution of functionality between its constituent municipalities. The suburbs increase their importance as a place to live in and work, while the central parts of the agglomeration retain the role of a service center. As a result of the study methodological principles of agglomerations development are formulated: a differentiated approach to determining landmarks, mechanisms and institutions of transformation processes, institutionalization of the object, the systemic nature of space transformation, the absence of barriers of interaction between elements, the availability of a resource basis for development. The results obtained can be used in the activities of public authorities that determine and implement regional policy.

Abstract: The subject of this research is determination of the peculiarities of assessing spatial characteristics of the development of socioeconomic systems of different scales. Special attention is given to the author’s approach towards assessment of economic space, which can become the basis for universal methodology suitable for comprehensive characteristics of spatial specificity of the economic phenomena and processes. The methodological framework of this research is comprised of the general scientific methods of theoretical and empirical cognition (scientific abstraction, analysis, and synthesis), as well as special methods of comparative analysis (Theil index and Hall-Tideman index). As a result of generalization, systematization and critical reevaluation of the methods of assessing the characteristics of economic space presented in the scientific literature, the author offers an original approach. It is based on the analysis of such spatial characteristics as asset security, homogeneity, and coherence. The peculiarity of this approach lies in consideration of the parameters of localization of objects, as well as the specificity of socioeconomic conditions established in the territory. Testing of the author’s approach allowed comparing the spatial characteristics of the development of foodservice industry in the regions of Middle Ural. It is revealed that Sverdlovsk Oblast outstrips Perm Krai in the level of foodservice industry (although its regional space is more heterogeneous), and the Perm Krai is characterized with a higher concentration of food services. It is proven that the proposed approach towards assessing the economic space can underlie the applied in practice methodological toolset; and thus, is promising for implementation in managing spatial transformations of the country and its separate territorial units.