Socioeconomic Development and Budget Status of Russian Regions in 2017

Natalia Zubarevich – Main Research fellow of the Demography, Migration and Research Laboratory, Institute of Social Analysis and Forecasting, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Doctor of Geographic Sciences, Professor. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In 2017, Russia’s regions saw their socioeconomic status improve marginally over 2016. Industrial sectors continued to increase in most of the regions, as investment rose in half of the regions. The unemployment rate continued to be low. However, personal incomes and residential construction contracted in most of the regions. Concentration of investment in Moscow and in leading oil and gas producing regions, as well as the geopolitical priority of government investing in Crimea, contributed to further regional polarization. Regions’ budget revenues continued to trail further behind Moscow.

Key words: Russian regions, socio-economic situation of regions, regional budgets.