The gap between the richest and the poorest regions decreased in the last decade — FBK survey

On October 25, 2011 a new research “Economic Differentiation of Regions: Estimations, Dynamics, Comparisons”, prepared by analysts of FBK audit and consulting company was represented at the meeting of FBK Economic Club.

Having reviewed the statistics, the authors of the research made a conclusion that interregional differentiation of economy of Russia throughout 2000-s remained significant. However it was slowly decreasing: in terms of gross regional product (GRP) the differentiation ratio between the ten richest and the ten poorest regions decreased from 3,8 times in 2000 down to 3,0 in 2009 (the gap between the richest and the poorest regions – “scale ratio” – decreased from 26,5 down to 25,4 times).The gap in terms of average monthly salary has decreased significantly (per employee) – from 3,6 in 2000 down to 2,7 times in 2010 ( “scale ratio” changed from 10,2 down to 5,1 times) - as regards the average income per person – from 3,4 down to 2,4 times (“scale ratio” changed from 13,6 down to 6,3 times). However, as Igor Nikolaev, Director of FBK Strategic Analysis Department stated “progress in reducing interregional differentiation was guaranteed, first of all, not by developing of economy of poor regions, but by active implementing of budget equaling policy”. “According to our forecast in the shortest while it is not feasible to prompt policy of financing donation regions, in the best way it will be possible to reserve it at the current level, in the worst case it will start increasing again. Which means that amendments are required in the policy of budget equaling”, the economist summed up.