The article assesses the development level and current state of rural areas in the Baltic States, with a particular focus on Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. The primary objective of the study is to identify key aspects of agricultural production, demographic trends in rural areas, and the socio-economic challenges these territories face, as well as to develop recommendations for their sustainable and inclusive growth. The research methodology adopts an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating demographic, economic, social, and environmental dimensions of rural development. The study employs comparative, systemic and statistical data analyses. For a more in-depth examination, methods of economic-geographical analysis and document analysis of European Union policies — particularly the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) — are utilized. The findings highlight both shared and country-specific issues affecting rural areas in the Baltic States, such as depopulation, aging of the population, high unemployment, low employment rates, and disparities in infrastructure. Special attention is given to agricultural trends, including the impact of EU agricultural policies, structural transformations in the agricultural sector, and the adoption of innovative technologies. The study underscores the importance of enhancing government support for agriculture, implementing sustainable production practices, and improving the overall quality of life in rural areas. This article provides a foundation for future research, including the exploration of the role and significance of integrating rural areas into national and European economic frameworks, enhancing governmental and international support mechanisms, and developing targeted programs aimed at improving rural living standards. These programmes are intended to involve local communities, including parish councils, farmers’ unions, and business associations.

This study is dedicated to the analysis of the state of automobile transport development of Latvian territories within the broader context of spatial inequality regarding economic productivity and environmental sustainability. The object of analysis comprises 43 Latvian municipalities, examined using statistical and fiscal data from 2022—2023. Given the country’s pronounced monocentric structure and population density asymmetries, correlation analysis and two-step hierarchical cluster analysis were employed to typologise territories based on characteristics of automobile transport infrastructure, economic indicators, and ecological risks. As a result, five stable territorial types were identified, displaying significant differences in levels of automobile transport provision, integration into the national economic space, and environmental load. Central cities generally benefit from concentrated investment and denser transport networks, while peripheral areas are characterised by limited infrastructure access and less favourable environmental conditions. A notable exception is Ventspils, which — despite its peripheral geographical position — was classified as a central-type territory owing to its infrastructure and economic attributes. The study concludes that a differentiated transport policy is essential — one that accounts for the unique characteristics of different territories and seeks to mitigate the effects of the center-periphery divide. The proposed empirical model provides a basis for formulating territorially sensitive strategies to promote the development of automobile transport, while concurrently aligning with sustainable development goals.

Anti-Russian sanctions have had varied and multidirectional impacts across multiple sectors of the national economy, including the housing construction sector — most notably, the development of multi-apartment residential buildings. As a consequence of these sanctions, foreign developers employing advanced management and marketing practices withdrew from the Russian market, while domestic developers were forced to rapidly adapt to both new and intensifying pre-existing factors shaping the primary housing market. This study seeks to identify the adaptation trajectories of major residential developers operating within the St. Petersburg agglomeration under the constraints imposed by anti-Russian economic sanctions. To this end, several research objectives were pursued: compiling and analyzing data on residential projects from the Unified Housing Construction Information System (UHCIS); mapping the territorial distribution of completed and ongoing residential developments; examining changes in the intensity of land development across different territorial zones; and evaluating developers’ spatial strategies using the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) and other analytical tools. The empirical foundation of the study is drawn primarily from UHCIS data provided by DOM.RF (including the map of new construction), complemented by information from media sources. Through cartographic analysis, territorial clusters of residential construction were delineated, and the share of housing commissioned in each cluster was assessed for three time periods: 2016—2020, 2020—2024, and 2025—2028. Developer concentration within these clusters was further evaluated using the HHI. The study identifies five major crisis factors induced by sanctions and outlines nine distinct adaptation trajectories among various groups of developers. The most immediate response was the withdrawal of foreign developers from the market. The research further proposes four strategic models adopted by domestic developers, each characterized by specific strengths, limitations, and implications for urban development. Among the most influential factors was the sharp increase in the Central Bank’s key interest rate, which led to a significant decline in suburban development due to reduced mortgage affordability. Conversely, development activity intensified in parts of the so-called ‘grey belt’, targeting segments of higher-income demand. This reorientation has contributed to greater spatial integration within the agglomeration and the ongoing expansion of the urban core.