A new perspective on regional inequalities in Russia

Two economic geographers examine trends in economic performance and quality of life of the population in Russia's regions from 1990 to the first years of the 21st century. The paper compares the results of tests for regional inequality according to a wide variety of standardized measures: gross regional product, personal income, unemployment, consumption variables, social and health indicators (educational level, life expectancy, infant mortality), and infrastructure endowment. The authors construct two composite indices of regional inequality that provide a framework for explaining the different development trajectories of Russia's regions following the disintegration of the USSR.