Spatial inequalities in Russia: dynamic and sectorial analysis

We study the dynamics of inter-regional economic disparities for a number of development characteristics, test the hypothesis of the new economic geography and connect the results with the prediction of the bell curve describing spatial concentration over time. Empirical analysis shows that the spatial concentration of economic activity continues in Russia and that the rate of inter-regional divergence is rather high. The factors that affect spatial concentration and regional disparities in Russia are population density, size and accessibility of markets, as well as the level of diversification.