Economic Convergence of Russian Regions: Empirical Assessment and Prospects
The objective of this article is to study the degree of differentiation and convergence of Russian regions in terms of their levels of socio-economic development using convergence theory in the current period and in the future. Using official data from the Federal State Statistics Service, an analysis of interregional disparities in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation was conducted. Trends in the convergence and divergence of regional economic development levels were examined and explained. Gross regional product per capita was used as a parameter for assessing the degree of convergence, divergence, and differentiation of socio-economic development. Calculation of the ratio of GRP per capita between the region with the highest and the region with the lowest value of this indicator revealed a significant gap in economic performance and limited opportunities for catch-up growth. The significant variance in the economic performance of the territories is confirmed by the values of the coefficient of variation. An empirical assessment and interpretation of data on territorial incomes allowed us to conclude that no convergence of the country's regions in terms of socio-economic performance or catch-up development took place during the study period. The lack of signs of convergence is demonstrated by the similarity in the dynamics of the gross regional product per capita across different regions of the Russian Federation. The prospects for economic convergence among Russia's regions remain ambiguous and depend on numerous factors. The potential for a future narrowing of the income and standard of living gap within the country depends on the effectiveness of economic policies that take into account structural differences between regions.
Chistnikova, I. V. (2026), “Economic Convergence of Russian Regions: Empirical Assessment and Prospects”, Research Result. Business and Service Technologies, 12 (1), pp.
While nobody left any comments to this publication.
You can be first.
Avilova, V. V. and Vladyka, M. V. (2025), “On the Formation of New Growth Points in the Country's Industry”, Economics. Informatics. 52 (4), pp. 798-805. DOI: 10.52575/2687-0932-2025-52-4-798-805. EDN FIAQFV. (In Russ.).
Antonova, M. V. (2025), “Statistical Indicators of the E-Criterion Assessment of the Region's Sustainable Development: A Methodological Aspect”, Problems of National Economy Development in Statistical Figure, Materials of the XII International Scientific and Practical Conference, In 3 volumes, Tambov, November 11, 2025, Tambov, Derzhavinsky Publishing House, pp. 36-40. EDN TIRDZT. (In Russ.).
Antonova, M. V. and Naumov, S. A. (2024), “Sharing Economy: Concept and Features”, Priority Directions of Economic Development in the Era of Digital Transformation, Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, In 2 Parts, Belgorod, March 25-29, 2024, Belgorod, Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics, and Law, pp. 24-30. EDN THPMLR. (In Russ.).
Dmitriev, S. G. (2024), “Divergence and convergence of money income in Russian regions”, Creative Economy, 18 (2), pp. 487-510. DOI: 10.18334/ce.18.2.120553.
Dubovik, M. V. and Dmitriev, S. G. (2023). “Convergence of economic development of Russian regions”, Creative Economy, 17 (12), pp. 4749-4766. DOI: 10.18334/ce.17.12.119881 (In Russ.).
Deng, X. and Song, M. (2025), “Global Convergence of Regional Socio-economic Development”, In: Development Geography, Springer, Singapore. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-96-6917-2_12.
Demidova, O. A. (2021). “Convergence of Russian Regions: Different Patterns for Poor, Middle and Rich”, Economy of regions, 17 (4), pp. 1151-1165, DOI: 10.17059/ekon.reg.2021-4-8.
Feng, P., Yasar, M. and Rejesus, R.M. (2024), “Innovation and regional economic convergence: evidence from China”, The Annals of Regional Science, 72, pp. 535–559. DOI: 10.1007/s00168-023-01210-9.
Manaeva, I. V. (2025), “Population Health and the Economy in Russian Regions: Parameters and Dependencies”, Problems of Territory Development, 29 (1), pp. 89-106. DOI: 10.15838/ptd.2025.1.135.7. EDN KOUFGK. (In Russ.).
Szczepańska-Woszczyna, K., Gedvilaitė, D., Nazarko, J., Stasiukynas, A. and Rubina, A. (2022), “Assessment of economic convergence among countries in the European Union”, Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 28 (5), pp. 1572-1588.
Taymaz, E. (2022), “Regional Convergence or Polarization: The Case of the Russian Federation”, Regional Research of Russia, 12, pp. 469–482 (2022). DOI: 10.1134/S2079970522700198.
Vladyka, M. V. and Mikhailenko, S. S. (2024), “Methodological Foundations for Forming and Evaluating the Effectiveness of Regional Strategies for Socio-Economic Development”, Economic Security of Socio-Economic Systems: Challenges and Opportunities, Proceedings of the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference, Belgorod, April 25, 2024, Belgorod, Epicenter, pp. 70-74. EDN BXZOVK. (In Russ.).