Subject. This article discusses conceptual foundations for designing regional policies for the socio-economic development of small towns in subsidized regions. Objectives. The article aims to identify the shortcomings of traditional support models for small towns and develop an approach to the design of support regional policies. Methods. For the study, I used the methods of systems and comparative analyses, systematization, and generalization. Results. The article develops a three-level differentiation matrix of policy according to the city type and the funding level. It also substantiates mechanisms for integrating small cities into regional and federal ecosystems. Conclusions. Traditional support models, such as budget equalization, targeted subsidies, and special programmes, do not ensure sustainable development of territories in current conditions.
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