and Kurgan Oblasts. It is Ivanovo Oblast, according to them, that epitomizes this
type of regions.Yet our studies, as of the later 1994, qualify as depressive regions
Ivanovo, Arkhangelsk, Kirov, Kurgan, Chita and Amur Oblasts; republics of Udmurt,
Chuvash and Buryat; Khabarovsk and Primorsky Krays - 11 regions in total, with an
area of 2940.600 km2, population 14729000.
Disparity in data btained with other researchers can be explained by a wider score
of the indices to be analyzed, more sophisticated procedure of data processing
and regions’ ranking. There is, however, yet another factor of significance, which is
the typology behavior. The findings of this behavior, shown in Table 2 and 3, lead
us to an unambiguous coclusion that the position of many regions have been
improved since 1992 when they were reffered to a landslide, i.e. crisis group. A
large protion of these regions, particularly those found in Central Russia, had left
the category of backward regions. In other words, even if there was further drop in
the volume of production and living standard - their pace was mach less than the
average relevant figures in the country as a whole.
The list of 11 regions indicated above, which are the subjects of RF, was made up
conventionally in the following manner: the regions with fairly high level of industrial
development (as as distinct from traditionally backward regions) were placed
among depressive ones. Out of the regions that in 1992 were in the group of
backward ones were taken those that showed no improvement in their level of
development in 1994 and that were found in critical position owing to a number of
additional factors.
Following this pattern, Republics of Chuvash and Buryat, Oblasts of Amur, Kirov
and Kurgan were placed among depressive regions. Out of backward Oblasts that
displayed a trend for improvement, Ivanovo and Chita Oblasts were included into
depressive category, because they suffered a dramatic drop in all indicators of
living standard and production sphere. Out of recently successful regions, there
were categorized as depressive Republic of Udmurt, Arkhangelsk Oblast,
Khabarovsk and Primorskiy Krays, which demonstrated a rapid drop of living
standard and production outputindicators over recent years. These are the formal
criteria, while the intrinsic prerequisites of ultimate formation of a group of
depressive regions will be discussed below.
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