Problems of structural transformation of the Far East economy in the context of Russia’s spatial development polarization

The article considers the hypothesis that the current policy for the development of the Far East is implemented when the process of polarization of economic activity in Russia around the core continues, which complicates the achievement of its main goals. According to the concept of “polarization reversal” advocated in this article, the policy of development of the periphery, implemented during the period of strengthening of the “core”, will only lead to strengthening of the existing specialization of backward regions. This is currently observed in the Russian Far East: a significant increase in investment in the sectors of industrial specialization and transport and energy infrastructure has not led to an increase in the contribution of the Far Eastern Federal District to the national product, while maintaining a negative balance of interregional migration. This is what is currently observed in the Russian Far East: a significant growth in investment in the sectors of industrial specialization and infrastructure has not led to an increase in the contribution of the Far Eastern Federal District to the national product, while the negative balance of interregional migration continues existing. At the same time, the key instrument of the “new Eastern policy” - the territories of advanced development – demonstrate efficiency in attracting investments using the absolute and comparative advantages of the corresponding locations, while their effectiveness in diversifying the industrial structure of the Far East remains controversial. The paper shows that for the southern zone of the Far East, the largest share among the cancelled investment projects falls on manufacturing industries. We conclude that the policy for the Far East development has features of a “neoliberal” approach: the state invests in transit infrastructure, while the structural modernization of the economy is carried out by free market forces