Contrasts of the Socioeconomic Space in the Center of Russia and Their Evolution: Two Cross-Sections

— This article reveals the degree of spatial contrast in the Center of Russia at the level of municipalities based on a number of economic and social indicators along two cross-sections (socioeconomic profiles), which together resemble the letter X on the map and are shown as graphs. One section includes districts from St. Petersburg to Moscow and then to the south of Tula oblast, another section passes from southern outskirts of Kaluga oblast via Moscow to the eastern outskirts of Kostroma oblast. Along the selected routes various absolute and relative indicators are considered that reflect human migration to permanent residence, intra- and inter-regional temporary labor and summer migrations, as well as long-term dynamics of the urban population and the post-Soviet transformation of industry and agriculture in municipalities. It is shown that migration losses in the areas around Moscow oblast are both a consequence and a cause of the crisis of the local economy. The pre-revolutionary industrial potential was largely destroyed by the end of the 20th century, while the accumulated late Soviet potential had a significant impact on the current development of cities and regions. However, the possibilities of its post-Soviet use varied greatly from place to place. The cumulative effects of population concentration closer to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and regional centers and the consequences of economic shrinkage are clearly shown. Although the economy is partially recovering and changing its specialization, its enlargement and modernization, including in agriculture, increases the problems of employment and the social sphere, which are the most acute at the municipal level.