ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL DISPARITIES: THE CENTRAL FEDERAL DISTRICT OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Abstract

This paper provides the results of the analysis of disparities in the regional development of the subjects of the federation belonging to the Central Federal District of Russia, as well as to the study of inequality in the gross regional product in the named area during 2013-2019. Inequality analysis was carried out using the coefficients of Gini, Atkinson, Theil, etc., as well as the Herfindahl-Hirschman and Williamson indices. We have analyzed the processes of concentration and dispersion of indicators of the gross regional product and gross regional product per capita (using the Lorenz curve), as well as the presence of convergence or divergence within the specified federal district by the ordinary least squares method and the nonlinear least squares method. We have established that during the observed period there are no statistically significant changes in the mentioned indicators of inequality. With regard to regional convergence, the regression model of which is first brought to the attention of researchers, we are forced to state the low rates of this process, the preservation of which will not allow us to overcome disproportions in the development of the regions of the Central Federal District in the foreseeable future (according to our calculations, it will take from 334 to 346 years to overcome the 50% gap in the distribution of the gross regional product between the regions of the Central Federal District).