# **Concept and structure of the research**

39. The research described in<sup>thisreportwascarriedoutwiththegoalsof assessingthe longer</sup> term impact of mine closure<sup>ontheentirecommunity, evaluatingtheeffectivenessofthe</sup> mitigation policies that have been<sup>usedtodate,anddevelopingpolicyrecommendationsto</sup> address the problems identified<sup>by theresearch.Whileit is prematureto speak of thetrulylong-</sup> term impact of mine closure on<sup>thecommunity,the subjectof theresearchwas communitiesin</sup> which large-scale downsizing of<sup>theminingworkforcebeganat least five years ago,in1997</sup> (although in many cases mines<sup>werealsoclosedsubsequently).In orderto captureinsights on</sup> current phenomena and trends<sup>thatarepoorlyreflectedinstatistics,theresearch wasdesigned</sup> primarily as a qualitative study<sup>intwophases consistingof in-depth interviewswithnational,</sup> regional and local experts and<sup>keyinformants(in thefirst phase)andimpactedgroupsof the</sup> population and "response" groups<sup>suchas localentrepreneurs(inthesecond phase).Thefirst</sup> phase of the fieldwork for the<sup>qualitativeresearchwascarriedoutovertheperiodSeptember-</sup> December 2001, and the second phase<sup>fieldworkwas carried out in February-March2002.</sup> 40. In addition, the research<sup>carriedoutin Ukraineincludeda quantitativecomponentinwhich</sup> survey data were collected on employment<sup>andlivingconditionsin theminingmunicipalitiesas</sup> well as in municipalities in the<sup>restof thecountry. The surveyfieldworkwascarriedoutin</sup> Ukraine in January-February<sup>2002.Alsoreportedhereare the findingsof a recent evaluationof</sup> the viability of jobs created under<sup>localdevelopmentprogramsinRussiathatwasfinancedby</sup> the World Bank loan providing<sup>technical assistancetotheRussianGovernment'scoal sector</sup> and carried<sup>out by independentRussianconsultants.</sup> restructuring program 41. The main areas of investigation<sup>were:(i)theoveralleconomic andsocialimpactof</sup> restructuring; (ii) employment<sup>impactofmineclosure;(iii)developmentofanalternative</sup> economic base; (iv) social<sup>consequencesofmineclosure,householdcopingstrategies;(v)</sup> environmental impact of mine<sup>closure;(vi)municipal, socialandutilityservices;and (vii)civil</sup> society (awareness, participation).<sup>Questionson anygiven issue wereformulatedwith respect to</sup> the competence and concerns of<sup>thegiven samplegroup;thus,forexample, localadministration</sup> officials were interviewed on<sup>theirvisionfordevelopinganalternativeeconomicbase,while</sup> local entrepreneurs were asked<sup>toevaluatetheclimateforbusiness andthe effectivenessof</sup> policies to facilitate the development<sup>of economic activityoutsidethe coal sector.</sup> _42._ **_Selection of research sites._**<sup>Contrarytothepopularimageoftheminingtownandthe</sup> tendency in common parlance<sup>togeneralizeexperience,coalminingtowns andsettlements</sup> display a great diversity when considered<sup>fromthepoint of viewof such basic indicatorsas the</sup> composition of their populations,<sup>the localeconomy'sdependenceon theminingsector,the</sup> nature of other existing forms<sup>of economicactivityand the prospectsfor developingthem, andso</sup> on. The selection of the mining<sup>municipalitiesasparticipantsintheresearchwasbasedona</sup> combination of quantitative and<sup>qualitativefactors.The firstphaseof selection wasbasedon</sup> two quantitative factors: (i) a high<sup>pre-restructuringshareof coalsectoremployment inthe</sup> overall workforce of the municipality;<sup>and(ii)ahighimpactof coalsectorrestructuringas</sup> measured by a substantial reduction<sup>in coalsector employment asashare of totalemploymentin</sup> the municipality. This seemingly<sup>straightforwardselectiontaskwascomplicatedbydifficulties</sup> 11