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Regional Convergence In Russia: Estimating A Neoclassical Growth Model

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  • Hartmut Lehmann

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Aleksey Oshchepkov

    (National Research University Higher School of Economics)

  • Maria Giulia Silvagni

    (University of Bologna)

Abstract

This paper studies the convergence in per capita gross regional products (GRPs) across Russian regions in the period from 1996 to 2017. We estimate growth equations, which are directly derived from a neoclassical growth model, augmented with human capital and migration. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that explicitly applies a neoclassical model to analyze regional convergence in Russia. We also take into account possible spatial effects and do a series of other robustness checks. Our main estimates establish a convergence rate of around 2% per year. While we fail to find any role of human capital for regional economic growth, we find that interregional migration and the interdependencies of the growth of Russian regions contribute to the economic convergence between them.

Suggested Citation

  • Hartmut Lehmann & Aleksey Oshchepkov & Maria Giulia Silvagni, 2020. "Regional Convergence In Russia: Estimating A Neoclassical Growth Model," HSE Working papers WP BRP 232/EC/2020, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hig:wpaper:232/ec/2020
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    Cited by:

    1. Vicente German-Soto & Gregory Brock, 2023. "Before the isolation: Russian regional β-convergence 2001–2019 before the pandemic and Ukrainian war," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2729-2746, August.
    2. K. P. Gluschenko, 2023. "Regional Inequality in Russia: Anatomy of Convergence," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Leone Leonida, 2023. "What Have We Not Learned from the Convergence Debate?," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, April.
    4. Vicente German-Soto & Gregory Brock, 2022. "Overall US and Census Region β-Convergence 1963–2015 Controlling for Spatial Effects," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(1), pages 44-67, March.
    5. Evguenia Bessonova & Anna Tsvetkova, 2022. "Do Productivity Laggards Ever Catch Up With Leaders?," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 68(S1), pages 71-107, April.
    6. Oshchepkov, Aleksey & Lehmann, Hartmut & Silvagni, Maria Giulia, 2023. "Regional convergence in Russia: Estimating an augmented Solow model," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(4).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    convergence; economic growth; regional economics; migration; Russia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • P2 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies

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