Economy and social sphere in Russian regions: trends, problems, and prospects

The study focuses on analyzing the current state of socio-economic development across Russia’s regions, identifying key disparities, and outlining possible directions for regional equalization. To achieve this goal, the following objectives were set: to conduct a comparative analysis of regional economic and social indicators; to identify regions with stable development and those experiencing chronic underdevelopment; to determine the main barriers to growth in lagging territories; and to outline key directions of governmental regional policy. The methodological basis of the article is a comparative analysis of official statistical data from Rosstat, including gross regional product, unemployment rates, household income, access to healthcare, and the number of students enrolled in general education. The study reveals persistent inequality between regions across all key indicators: gross regional product, employment, income, and access to social services. Economically strong regions concentrate resources, investments, and human capital, while weaker ones face demographic decline and infrastructure degradation. Intermediate regions require targeted support. Russia’s socio-economic space remains fragmented. Current governmental measures have not yet addressed the root causes of regional inequality. A systemic approach is needed, including reform of interbudgetary relations, human capital development, and support for mid-sized cities as regional growth hubs.