Mechanisms of agribusiness participation in the development of social infrastructure of rural areas: public-private partnerships and corporate social responsibility

Abstract

The article examines the economic prerequisites and forms of agribusiness participation in the development of rural social infrastructure. Using Rosstat data for 2015–2025 and regional statistics for the constituent entities of the Central Federal District excluding Moscow, the study assesses the resource potential of the agricultural sector, the condition of rural infrastructure, the structure of investment financing, and the commissioning of education and healthcare facilities. The results show that social infrastructure is becoming an important factor in retaining labour resources and sustaining the production base of agribusiness. A differentiated combination of public-private partnership and corporate social responsibility is substantiated. PPP is most appropriate for capital-intensive facilities with long life cycles and formal risk allocation, while CSR enables flexible corporate participation in solving local problems in areas of business presence. An approach to choosing a participation mechanism is proposed, taking into account regional agricultural specialization, business financial capacity and the existing investment financing structure.