Influence of preferential regimes on the Russian Far East development

The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of preferential regimes on the socio-economic development of territories on the example of the Far Eastern regions. We use both quantitative (e.g. regression and correlation analysis, modeling, method of averages, index method, “difference in differences”, factor analysis) and qualitative methods (document analysis, case-study, benchmarking, classification). The creation of preferential regimes, such as the Territory of Advanced Development, Free Port of Vladivostok, Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation, was a key element of the Far East development policy. To manage these preferential regimes a development institution has been created named Corporation for the Far East and the Arctic Development (CFEAD). We carried out the evaluation of the indicators of preferential regimes functioning and the socio-economic development of the Far Eastern regions. We identified the regions where these regimes have a positive impact on economic growth, and estimated the degree of the CFEAD’s assistance to their success. Also we worked out recommendations for optimizing preferential regimes and development institutions activities, which are acceptable both for the regions of the Far Eastern Federal District and in the all-Russian context.