Leadership of Lagging Territories: Myth or Reality?

Most economic studies regard periphery as something that has remained beyond development. Its role in the economy is reduced to serving as a resource base for a center represented by a set of more developed territories and a consumer of its products. In reality, the diversity of periphery’s participation in economic life often leads to the fact that it leaves the existing centers behind and takes their place instead. The article considers theoretical views on changing the position of peripheral territories in the “center-periphery” relations and turning them from outsiders into leaders. A system of indicators is presented, which can be used to assess the location of the territory in the “center-periphery” system. The center-peripheral processes in modern Russia are considered. Regions related to the center, semi-periphery, and periphery are identified. Taking subjects of the Russian Federation as an example, it is shown how peripheral regions became leaders and the centers became outsiders of economic development. A forecast of changes in the “center-periphery” system in Russia is made. The recommendations for the authorities on managing the country’s spatial development have been developed. The study is divided into three parts. The first part, theoretical, presents a brief overview of the scientific discussion on the periphery of territories and the interpretation of the concept of “peripheral region.” In the methodological part of the study, the authors develop a system of indicators for assessing the location of the territory in the “center-periphery” system; central and peripheral subjects of the Russian Federation are defined. The final, applied, part of the study contains recommendations for the authorities on managing the spatial development of the country.