The Consequences of Modern Regional Policy in Russia

The chapter presents the results of scientific research of topical problems of Russian regional policy. The excessive differentiation of the socioeconomic situation in the regions is identified as the most important problem. It is presented that the differentiation of the level of socioeconomic development of regions is due to the presence (or absence) of significant territorial competitive advantages. Russia’s regions are divided into six strata according to the level of GRP per capita. It is established that more than 70% of the country’s regions can be classified as disadvantaged. The negative consequence of excessive socioeconomic differentiation of regions is a high degree of migration toward Moscow and St. Petersburg. All that accelerates degradation of depressed regions.