Assessing intraregional asymmetry of agricultural production in the Vologda oblast

One of the strategic tasks for Russia at the present stage of development is the reduction of inter-and intraregional asymmetry, manifested in a signifi cant differentiation of the levels of economic development and infrastructure development of territories, provision of services to the population and other imbalances. The need to solve this problem is emphasized not only by the scientifi c community, but also by the authorities and local self-government. The article aims to identify and assess the extent of intraregional asymmetry of economic development on the example of agricultural production in the Vologda Oblast. Both general scientifi c and special methods of economic research (tools of spatial econometrics) were used in the work. As a result, we identifi ed and characterized the dynamics of changes in intraregional asymmetry for 1996-2020. We found that Velikoustyugsky, Vologodsky, Gryazovetsky, Sheksninsky, Cherepovetsky districts are currently the largest nodes of agricultural production in the Oblast, accumulating development resources. Further strengthening of their positions with the loss of agricultural production potential by a number of eastern districts leads to an increase in intraregional asymmetry in the future. It is determined that in order to reduce asymmetry and improve the balance of the development of municipalities in the region, it is necessary to form new local centers and poles ofgrowth, increase the intensity of spatial interactions between territories. The results of the work contribute to the development of ideas about the nature of intraregional asymmetry of agricultural production in the Vologda Oblast and can be used by researchers when conducting studies on similar topics, by state authorities of constituent entities the Russian Federation and local self-government in the framework of improving policies in the fi eld of socio-economic and spatial development of territories.