Russia presents an interesting case of a country which has strived to implement innovation policies since the transition period but so far has achieved mixed results. This study aims to analyze the impact of knowledge production and knowledge spillovers on regional growth in Russia within a framework of endogenous growth models. Applying GMM and spatial error panel modeling techniques to Rosstat data for 80 Russian regions from 2005 to 2013, the authors test the hypothesis about the relevance of R&D and expenditure on technological innovations (H1) and the hypothesis about the relevance of knowledge spillovers (H2) on the growth rates of GRP per capita. Hypothesis 1 was confirmed while Hypothesis 2 was rejected, indicating the absorptive capacities of innovatively lagging regions were not high enough for effective adaptation of new technologies from technologically innovative regions. Inclusion of indicators related to additional channels of knowledge diffusion in regressions resulted in the relevance of FDI and imports of goods and services for regional growth. Results of the study could form the basis for developing innovation policies for the Russian regions.
The article explores the interrelations between research and development (R&D), innovation activity, and economic growth in the Russian regions. To analyze these interrelations, the econometric framework is applied. Based on data for 2005-2013, panel regression with fixed effects and the Arellano-Bond model are constructed. Hypotheses about the significant impact of knowledge and socioeconomic conditions on regional growth have been tested, while the expenditure on R&D and technological innovation are used to analyze knowledge spillovers; and spillovers of socioeconomic conditions are modeled with a socioeconomic filter. The results of calculations indicate possible competition for labor in the industry when this indicator is included in the socioeconomic filter. The calculations also confirm the significant impact of expenditure on technological innovation and spillovers on technological innovations for regional economic growth. At the same time, knowledge has been more efficiently disseminated to regions with high absorptive capacity, as well as between regions with similar growth rates. The authors conclude that knowledge spillovers can have a significant impact on gross regional product per capita (GRP) growth. The results can be used by regional governments when formulating innovation policy.
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