ИСТИНА

The economic growth in large developing countries (China, India, Brazil, Mexico, etc.) is accompanied by a sharp increase in regional differentiation. Regions-exporters, as well as regions with an advantageous geographical position (border and coastal regions) have higher rates of growth, and they eventually achieve higher levels of development. In Russia, the 2000s was a period of rapid economic growth, based on export of raw materials, food and weapons. The growth increased regional disparities. The purpose of the paper was to identify the main factors of economic development of the Russian regions and classify the regions, according to the main factors. The authors constructed a panel regression on regional data during 1998-2012 for different periods and groups of regions. The dependent variable was growth of real gross regional product (GRP) per capita adjusted for inter-regional price index. Regions, leading in economic growth, were regions-exporters of raw materials (Khanty-Mansi, Yamal-Nenets, Tatarstan, etc.), regions with advantageous geographical position (Leningrad, Kaluga, Primorsky Krai, Krasnodar region) and large agglomerations (Moscow, St. Petersburg). For the whole sample, positively significant factors were GRP share of the mining industry and an advantageous geographical position (coastal regions and close to the agglomerations). Controversial factors were the influence of international trade (import per GRP), foreign direct investment and technology transfer (the share of machinery and equipment in import). Human capital (years of schooling) and investments in R & D were significant for regions with a predominance of the manufacturing industry. Budget investment per capita is a significant factor for the less developed regions.