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The formation of urban agglomerations is a key priority in Russia's spatial development agenda. However, the scientific literature primarily focuses on the largest urban agglomerations, neglecting those with populations of less than 500 thousand people. This article aims to analyze the features and challenges of the institutional regulation of second-tier Russian urban agglomerations, such as Vologda, Arkhangelsk, Tambov, Kaluga, Norilsk, Surgut, Khanty-Mansiysk, and Yuzhno- Sakhalinsk. It has been observed that the legal status of urban agglomerations at the federal level is not clearly defined. Moreover, some regional strategic planning documents fail to address the intensification of agglomeration processes, focusing solely on larger urban areas. Inconsistencies within regions in terms of the number, composition, and configuration of urban agglomerations have been identified, such as in KhMAO-Yugra and the Vologda region. The lack of coordination among municipal strategies and regional planning documents, as seen in Arkhangelsk, Norilsk, Khanty-Mansiysk, and Vologda, is also a pressing issue. The article suggests that both a "top-down" approach, led by government authorities as in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and a "bottom-up" approach, involving active local authorities and business structures as in Surgut, can be utilized to support the development of second-tier urban agglomerations. The findings of this study could be beneficial for state authorities and local self-governments seeking to enhance policies for urban agglomeration development in Russia.
Секушина et al. (Mon,) studied this question.