Quality of life in Russian regions: empirical analysis

Theoretical and methodological foundations of the quality of life are a relevant problem area of regional economic research. Scientists, government offi cials and managers are trying to answer the important question: “Where is it good to live in Russia?”. Under the conditions of the new economic reality, the possibilities of quality of life management are narrowing and should be applied to eliminate large-scale differences between cities and regions of the country. The purpose of the study is to assess the quality of life in the constituent entities of Russia, to identify the most favorable regions for living and working. We have formed a system of quality of life indicators, including the following blocks: economic potential, welfare of the population, demographic potential, social infrastructure, transportation infrastructure. Our methodological approach was tested in 83 regions of the Russian Federation. Research periods: 2005, 2012, 2015, 2021. Information base is the data of the Federal State Statistics Service. In Russia, there is a high differentiation by the criterion “the share of the population with incomes below the subsistence minimum”, and inequality is increasing. Human resources are attracted to the capital region, and there is an infl ow of population to the industrial regions of the Volga Federal District, Saint Petersburg and Krasnodar Krai against the background of desertifi cation of the periphery. Moscow, Saint Petersburg, oil-producing regions and the Moscow Oblast are stable leaders in terms of quality of life. At the same time, the level of quality of life has negative dynamics during the analyzed period. Stably low level of the quality of life is observed in the republics of Tyva, Kalmykia, Altai. Signifi cant improvement was noted in the Vladimir Oblast (in 2005 - 75th position, in 2021 - 55th position), Arkhangelsk Oblast (in 2005 -81st position, in 2021 - 50th position). The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the results obtained by the authorities in the preparation of regional strategies and programs of socio-economic development aimed at improving the quality of life.