Labor efficiency factors in resourse-dependent and non-resource regions[Факторы Производительности Труда Ресурсных И «Нересурсных» Регионов]

The development of regions with extractive economy is under the threat of resource dependence, which has a negative impact on manufacturing and the market and leads to budget dependence on the fluctuation of extracted resource price. A targeted state policy can overcome negative effects of resource dependence, but it requires a deep understanding of the economic development of the resource-based economy. The article studies the factors of labor efficiency in the resource-based economy at the regional level. The purpose of the article is to assess the impact of capital-labor ratio and human capital on the dynamics of productivity in resource regions in comparison with the territories with non-resource economy. The subjects of the Russian Federation, which include both resource-dependent and non-resource regions, were chosen as the object of research. The sample of resource-dependent regions was created based on the localization coefficient for mining sector. The Cobb-Douglas production function was used to analyze labor efficiency factors. We used the data of the State Statistical Agency of Russia for the period of 2011 – 2017, because information about the working hours is available only since 2011. The calculations have shown that capital-labor ratio plays a leading role in both resource-dependent and non-resource regions, but in the former its impact is significantly greater. At the same time, the role of the human capital factor is negligible in resource-dependent regions, which reflects low demand for educated employees in the resource economy. The results show that sustainable development of resource-dependent regions of the Russian Federation is at risk. Serious dependence of the economic growth on outward investments together with low demand for educated employees increase the risk of becoming resource-dependent. A strategic alternative for resource-dependent region development is a state policy that is targeted to include extractive industries into the local economy. Such policy requires the active participation of regional authorities in the development of licensing agreements with potential users of natural resources, and the formation of requirements for the extraction of minerals that meet the interests of sustainable development of the territory.