Regional reality and regional studies

Abstract

The paper analyzes the causes and consequences of the growing gap between the crucial issues of Russia’s regional reality and the scope of research thereof. Over the last two decades, these issues have expanded due to population decrease in geopolitically important areas, crisis of the historical settlement pattern (existing settlements and relationships between them), degradation of human resources, poor development of local economies and local markets, and a lack of opportunity for regional and municipal authorities and the population to implement their initiatives. All of this is accompanied by a growing imbalance between all the elements constituting the capacity of individual territories. Unfortunately, regional studies in Russia have shown an increasing tendency to confine themselves to macroeconomic indicators and the rationale for development plans, neglecting the trends in the above-mentioned issues. The share of publications on this subject in leading Russian journals is 2% or less (1995–2013). One reason for this is the lack of interest on the part of the customers for this area of research, because the results of these studies might require a fundamental change in regional policy.