A regional dimension of the Russian export: Assessment of spatial and sectoral differentiation

Abstract

<jats:p>The problem of export diversification remains pressing for Russia, which needs to increase the share of the non-resources exports, and in particular, the share of higher valueadded products. The paper aims to examine the spatial differentiation of the Russian exports by various entities (federal districts, regions, top exporting companies), including in the sectoral context, and for the latter considers the most important machines and equipment sector. The methodological basis of the research rests on regional and spatial economics and theories of foreign economic activity. The paper applies economic-statistical methods, including the corre lation analysis. The authors examine Russia and its regions’ exports for 2013–2018 based on the data of Russia’s Federal State Statistic Service and Federal Customs Service and reveal “consist ency” between production and export of mechanical engineering products in the four groups of regions. The analysis demonstrates high importance of the resources export for the national economy and high spatial differentiation of exports, including of the non-resources ones. Dur ing 2013–2018, the mechanical engineering production and export grew in 27 regions, how ever, on average, high-tech production is more focused on the domestic market. The analysis confirms the significance of export as a channel of production preservation and can serve as a contribution to justify the necessity to develop the new industrial export specialisation. The results of the research can be of use to the institutions of economic development (government authorities) to outline the perspectives of the regional development of export.</jats:p>