Human-centricity composite index for regional economy: Methodology development and testing in the regions of the Volga Federal District

Introduction. The socio-economic development of a region is currently focused on the balanced spatial development and better quality of life of the population, which is confirmed by the regional development strategies and the national goals of the state, enshrined in the national projects of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of a unified comprehensive methodology for assessing the human-centered approach of the regional socio-economic system, which represents a key problem in shaping a human-centered approach strategy for the balanced development of the regional economy. The purpose of the study is to develop a comprehensive assessment methodology represented with a composite index for the human-centered approach of a region’s socio-economic system and its testing in the regions of the Volga Federal District. Materials and Methods. The methodology was tested with the 2023 official data from Rosstat and relevant government organizations by the constituent entities of the Volga Federal District, which ensured the accessibility, reliability, and objectivity of the selected indicators. Methods of normalizing heterogeneous indicators, calculating sub-indices, using the adjusted mean to identify imbalances in subgroups, and aggregation were used. Results. The authors of the study emphasize the importance of the harmonious development of the population residing on the given territory, which is reflected in the human-centered approach. As part of testing of the proposed methodology, a composite index of human-centered approach was calculated, including an assessment of such components as welfare and comfortable environment, health and longevity, culture, education and future skills, labor and opportunities for self-realization, innovation, digital inclusion and infrastructure for 14 regions of the Volga Federal District. A comparative assessment of the results obtained revealed a high differentiation of regions by their level of human-centered approach and regions with internal imbalances in some components. Measures to mitigate the identified imbalances are proposed. Conclusions. The proposed assessment methodology for the human-centered approach of a region’s socio-economic system can be useful for making effective management decisions and developing programs and strategies for regional development.