Ecological Efficiency and Sustainable Regional Development in Russia During the 20 Years of Resource-Based Growth

Abstract

Climate change as well as ecological and social problems requires new goals and instruments of economic policy, based on the principles of sustainable develop­ment. However, over the past 20 years, an increase in energy prices has resulted in the raw material growth model prevailing in Russia. Has this growth led to sustainable regional development? We propose an approach to evaluating eco­logical efficiency of the Russian regions as the ratio of the output of non-primary goods and services to the input of resources (labor, capital, raw materials, and environmental costs). This is a new indicator of the quality of economic growth. The sustainable development model, combining growth of GRP per capita and ecological efficiency, has been observed for more than half of the period in most regions. The eco-efficiency of the average region has been growing since 2003, except crisis periods, following an increase of the services sector share and the closure of inefficient pollution-intensive factories. According to the econometric results, ecological efficiency was growing faster in densely populated regions with a high share of high-tech services, investment attractiveness and intensive tech­nology implementation (Moscow; Saint Petersburg; Sverdlovsk, Tomsk, Belgorod and Kaliningrad regions etc.); it decreased in most northern and Siberian regions. Great potential for raising eco-efficiency remains in most regions. In general, the results of regional development in Russia do not contradict the principles and goals of sustainable development (SDGs), although it was largely achieved due to the system of inter-budget transfers, distributing the oil rent surplus among the regions. In the future, an increase in investments in the non-primary sector, en­ergy efficiency and public transportation will be required. Corresponding changes can be accelerated in the context of an emerging economic crisis caused by the pandemic and falling oil prices.

The Eco-Efficiency of Russian Regions in North Asia: Their Green Direction of Regional Development

“…Initially, this method was used for the purposes of microeconomic analysis [37][38][39], but later its scope expanded significantly. Currently, DEA is widely used to assess the eco-efficiency of socio-economic development of regions [40][41][42][43][44]. In Russia, this method is not yet widespread.…”

“…In Russia, this method is not yet widespread. There have been only a couple of studies assessing regional economic systems in terms of their comparative sustainability [42][43][44]. In this study, the authors have attempted to contribute to the existing methodology for DEA of eco-efficiency: the selection of the most adequate model based on the impact decoupling, as well as the choice of its parameters.…”

Analysis of Differentiation of Regions in the Conditions of Sustainable Development

“…Meanwhile, in recent years, the share of regions that are implementing the model of sustainable development has been decreasing against the background of declining rates of economic growth. This process is accompanied by an increase in the consumption of resources of the raw materials sector and environmental pollution [2].…”

Digital Manufacturing Enterprises as a Factor of Overcoming the Consequences of the Spread of COVID-19 in the Regions

“…The paradigm of sustainable development is attractive, because it provides for the ability to meet the current needs of humankind without harm to future generations. Sustainability includes three principles: first, balanced self-sustaining economic growth, based on efficient use and distribution of resources; second, harmonious social development, which implies equal access to social benefits, political responsibility; third, the solution of economic problems [2]. To measure the level and dynamics of sustainable development, assessments of a complex of economic, social, and environmental characteristics are used, including indicators of the economy's impact on the natural environment, energy intensity, and specific energy consumption [3].…”