Economy Develops Unevenly in Regions
According to data published Friday by Rosstat, the gross regional product (gross added value) per capita in Russia was 156,500 rubles. In the Urals Federal District, it is almost twice the national average, (308,300 rubles), while in the Southern District, it is less than half the average (70,700 rubles). Closest to the average are the Far Eastern (150,300 rubles), Northwestern (159,600 rubles) and Central (210,500 rubles) Federal Districts. Since 1998, two districts, Central and Urals, have increased their lead over the national average gross added value, while the others have declined or remained the same.
The gap in economic growth rates is most indicative. Between 1999 and 2006, the total gross added value for the Russia Federation increased 67.6 percent. In the Central District, it grew by 80.4 percent, while in the Far East, its growth was only 40.8 percent. Within central Russia, huge disproportions can be seen. In Moscow, the average gross added value per capita was 493,200 rubles, while in Ivanovo Region it was 48,000 rubles, the same level as Adygea, Dagestan and Kabardino-Balkaria in the North Caucasus. The under-populated Far East, long a headache for Russian authorities, looks depressed not only in comparison with other Russian regions, but with neighboring northern China as well.
Besides the Central District, the richest and poorest districts, Urals and Southern, showed the fast growth. The reasons for that growth are different. The lion's share of mineral production takes place in the Urals Federal District, while the Southern District is simply catching up to the rest of the country. The problem of uneven growth was discussed at the cabinet meeting last Thursday, although it was not the main emphasis of the meeting.
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All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 14, 2008
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