The role of geographical factor in the formation and development of human potential

This article summarizes the results of the study on development and analysis of the typology of Russian regions according to criteria for the quality of human potential. Prior to this, ten clusters of this typology were studied separately, exceptions from the typical entry into clusters with neighboring regions were considered. Although among the qualitative characteristics of human potential there was not a single one, reflecting the territorial location of the regions, but in the typology they were distributed precisely on the basis of geography. Unobserved factors, whose effects on human potential are mediated by study-driven indicators, played a crucial role in clustering regions. Such a result naturally brought us to the works of L. N. Gumilev, which were studied in terms of the role played by geography of territories, landscapes and climate in the formation of human potential. In many ways, geographical conditions also determine the nature of economic activities, which form the abilities and skills of the population that characterize human potential. It was concluded that the typology of regions obtained on the characteristics of human potential corresponds to the composition of federal districts, with the exception of four small clusters, three of which — with a pronounced raw material specialization and one — with the financial advantages of two capital cities. Accordingly, this implies the expediency of using the administrations of federal districts to solve the problem of improving the quality of human potential. The protracted process of giving administrative status to federal districts can be completed by setting them the important social task of developing and implementing a strategy for improving the qualitative characteristic of population.