ABSTRACT
Modern transformations of socio-politic and economic life of Russia have intentionally forced the growth of competitive relations among big cities. Modern cities are forced to compete for the investments, informational flows, and qualified labor force, tourists, for the attraction of big politic, economic, scientific, cultural, and other centers of federal significance. The authorities of cities begin to realize that the prosperity of the territory depends on the correct choice of the strategy of development. It is necessary to maintain continuously a growing level of the living standard to enforce the competitive advantage of the cities; therefore, the permanent monitoring of the socio-economic development of the cities is very important in order to work out effective solutions.
