SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN THE FAR EASTERN FEDERAL DISTRICT AND ITS IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article analyzes the role of socio-economic inequality in the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) and its impact on the sustainable development of the region. The relevance of the topic is due to the growing attention to regional sustainability in the context of environmental transition, digitalization and new geoeconomic orientations of Russia, in particular the Asia-Pacific region. The article assesses the differences between the subjects of the FEFD in terms of urbanization level, economic structure, employment level, access to health services, average income and investment in order to identify factors that contribute to or hinder the balanced and sustainable development of the region. The results demonstrate pronounced regional differentiation within the region. Regions with a harsh climate are characterized by a high level of urbanization and pronounced industrial specialization. At the same time, regions such as Buryatia or Amur Oblast retain an agricultural focus and are less urbanized. There is also a tendency towards an increase in population and an increase in dependence on extractive industries, while agriculture is declining in almost all regions. The most economically dynamic cities (Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) attract more investment.