Indicators for assessing regional economic differentiation

The objective of this study is to develop a system of indicators for quantitatively assessing the level of economic differentiation in Russian regions. This system allows not only to ascertain the presence and depth of interregional differences but also to identify the structural components of this differentiation and substantiate regional policy approaches to mitigating it. Based on the results of this study, a two-tier system of indicators for assessing regional economic differentiation, comprising six groups, is proposed. A methodology for "convolving" individual indicators into group indicators using standardization and the weighted sum method, as well as a methodology for calculating the integrated indicator of regional differentiation, is developed. Threshold values are proposed for each individual, group, and integrated indicator.