Assessment of the risks of uneven spatial development in Russia’s macroregions

Oleg A. Golovanov, Alexander N. Tyrsin, Elena V. Vasilyeva

Abstract


Relevance. Uneven spatial development is a common challenge for all countries, driven by both subjective and objective factors. The issue lies not in regional disparities themselves but in their growing intensity. Amid crises and economic turbulence, it is crucial to have tools to assess the risks of increasing spatial unevenness and widening socio-economic disparities between regions.

Research Objective. This study aims to develop and test a tool for estimating the risks of uneven spatial development in Russia’s macroregions and the growing differentiation of regions by socio-economic level, using the Urals-Siberian macroregion as a case study.

Data and Methods. A two-stage approach is proposed to evaluate spatial development in terms of uniformity and regional differentiation by socio-economic level and growth rate. In the first stage, the probability of a socio-economic decline is estimated based on key indicators (risk factors) and their dynamic indices. In the second stage, the probability of an increasing variation coefficient within a macroregion, reflecting rising disparities in socio-economic development, is analyzed. A multifactor risk model is used for analysis. The study relies on data from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) covering the period from 2000 to 2022.

Results. Applying this approach to the Urals-Siberian macroregion revealed persistent spatial unevenness throughout the study period, primarily due to the specialization of regions, which stabilizes their relative positions. However, during crises, spatial disparities tend to widen as regions demonstrate varying adaptive capacities and resilience —some not only recover but also improve their positions.

Conclusion. The proposed tool assesses risks linked to uneven development and growing regional disparities, offering insights for sustainable macroregional strategies. The findings emphasize the need to consider regions’ specificities and adaptive capacities in spatial development policies.


Keywords


spatial development, macroregion, interregional differentiation, interterritorial inequality, socio-economic development

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/recon.2025.11.1.004

Copyright (c) 2025 Oleg A. Golovanov, Alexander N. Tyrsin, Elena V. Vasilyeva

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