TY - JOUR

T1 - Spatial Development of Modern Russia

T2 - Factors, Mechanisms, Results

AU - Kolomak, E. A.

N1 - Kolomak, E. A. Spatial Development of Modern Russia: Factors, Mechanisms, Results / E. A. Kolomak // Regional Research of Russia. – 2026. – Vol. 16, No. 2. – P. 193-202. – DOI 10.1134/S2079970526600125. – EDN RAIHJS. The study was carried out according to the research plan of the Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, project no. 126021116963-8

PY - 2026/7/9

Y1 - 2026/7/9

N2 - This paper studies the evolution of the spatial distribution of economic activity in Russia from 1995 to 2022, identifies the key factors and mechanisms that governed these changes, and explains the role of macroeconomic and global shocks of this period in the identified structural shifts. Descriptive statistics, Theil indices, and econometric estimates are used for the analysis. The study revealed the presence of stable trends: economic activity in Russia is gradually migrating from East to West, from peripheral regions to the European centers, and from regions with resource specialization to regions with predominantly manufacturing sectors. The mechanisms and factors of these spatial changes are primarily market-related and include accumulated fixed and human capital, the size and accessibility of external markets, and an agglomeration economy. The econometric analysis revealed no structural shifts in the contribution of significant factors that could have been caused by the transformation of the external environment in recent years. Regression estimates showed that government participation has a significant impact on regional business activity, but its effect is insufficient to reverse established trends in spatial evolution and initiate an eastern development vector. To address the challenge of spatial maneuvering eastward, government initiatives should include large-scale financial and organizational support for a series of large-scale, impactful projects with economic growth multipliers localized primarily in the country’s East.

AB - This paper studies the evolution of the spatial distribution of economic activity in Russia from 1995 to 2022, identifies the key factors and mechanisms that governed these changes, and explains the role of macroeconomic and global shocks of this period in the identified structural shifts. Descriptive statistics, Theil indices, and econometric estimates are used for the analysis. The study revealed the presence of stable trends: economic activity in Russia is gradually migrating from East to West, from peripheral regions to the European centers, and from regions with resource specialization to regions with predominantly manufacturing sectors. The mechanisms and factors of these spatial changes are primarily market-related and include accumulated fixed and human capital, the size and accessibility of external markets, and an agglomeration economy. The econometric analysis revealed no structural shifts in the contribution of significant factors that could have been caused by the transformation of the external environment in recent years. Regression estimates showed that government participation has a significant impact on regional business activity, but its effect is insufficient to reverse established trends in spatial evolution and initiate an eastern development vector. To address the challenge of spatial maneuvering eastward, government initiatives should include large-scale financial and organizational support for a series of large-scale, impactful projects with economic growth multipliers localized primarily in the country’s East.

KW - Russia

KW - eastern vector

KW - economic development

KW - empirical analysis

KW - factor

KW - spatial proportions

KW - trend

KW - пространственные пропорции

KW - экономическое развитие

KW - Россия

KW - тенденция

KW - эмпирический анализ

KW - фактор

KW - восточный вектор

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3d9ec596-8ff4-3dc2-bd0e-9044a8c3990a/

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105041331803

UR - https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=91554958

U2 - 10.1134/S2079970526600125

DO - 10.1134/S2079970526600125

M3 - Article

VL - 16

SP - 193

EP - 202

JO - Regional Research of Russia

JF - Regional Research of Russia

SN - 2079-9705

IS - 2

ER -