Analysis of the productivity of the real sector of the Russian regions' economy

Abstract

In the presented article, based on a comparison of modernist and postmodern approaches interpreted in geography as determinism and non-determinism, the limits of the possible use of "simple" methods to identify macro-dimensions are tested. An index calculated as the ratio of GRP to the main cost elements of funds (embodied labor) and employed/population (live labor) (efficiency) was used as the main unit of comparison of regions in terms of efficiency (productivity) of their economies. The complementary parameters of the analysis of territorial differences in productivity were accumulated investments, labor productivity and capital return. Specialization indicators were used as factors explaining their distribution by regional efficiency levels. It has been established that the most effective regions are those specializing in gold mining, followed by oil and gas producing regions, followed by regions of concentration of heavy industry (ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, petrochemistry and oil refining. Machine-building specialization does not provide even the average Russian level of efficiency of regional economies. Based on the conducted research, it is shown that the dichotomy reflected in many works is the resource north with the most efficient economy and the non-resource, agrarian, low-efficiency south with a predominance of traditional social structures. It was also possible to assess the impact of agglomeration effects on the index values by allocating regions with centers to millionaire cities. Based on the results obtained, the degree of integrity of the economic regions was assessed. In the final part, based on a comparison of the distribution of accumulated investments and fixed assets across the territory, a typology has been created that reflects different trends in the development of macro-regions of Russia.

Keywords:

modernism, postmodernism, neodeterminism, efficiency index, specialization, economic area