Changing Regional Inequality Patterns in Western China: A Case Study of Xinjiang

Regional inequality in western China has been rarely examined and has risen as an important issue in the Chinese academic circle. This study, taking Xinjiang as a case, investigated regional inequality in Xinjiang since the 1990s. The results show that the interregional inequality became more prominent, while the overall regional disparities among counties and cities have experienced an inverted U-shape path and have been mainly caused by the inequality of the intra-north part of the province. Counties with high economic development levels were mainly located in northern Xinjiang and had a high probability of further moving economic levels. We further found that the regional development pattern in Xinjiang was significantly associated with spatial accessibility, followed by population density and urbanization factors. This paper deepens our understanding of the complex pattern and mechanism of regional inequality in western China, and local specific policies, therefore, are needed to solve the problem.

Valuatio of Inequality in the Russian Federation and its Decomposition Using the Theil Index

The high level of interregional socio-economic inequality is one of the main problems of spatial development of the Russian Federation, which is enshrined in several state strategic planning documents. Such a situation requires constant monitoring of this inequality and the search for solutions to this problem. The article analyzes the current situation of interregional inequality in the Russian Federation according to a few key indicators of socio-economic development and assesses the dynamics of changes in inequality of the subjects of the Russian Federation in the period 2000–2019. In addition, the article decomposes interregional inequality using the Theil index and proves that differences between federal districts explain a relatively small part of interregional differentiation, while differences between regions within districts account for more than 80% of all regional variation.

Analysis of Revenue Inequality and Development of Leading Economic Sectors of District and City in Banten Province, Indonesia

The imbalance of inter-regional economic development is a common phenomenon that occurs in the process of economic development of a region. This interregional inequality was originally caused by differences in natural resource content and differences in demographic conditions in each region. As a result of these differences, the ability of an area to increase economic growth and encourage the development process also becomes different. Therefore, it is not surprising that in every region there is usually a relatively developed region and a relatively underdeveloped region. This study aims to analyze how big the level of income inequality that occurs between regencies/cities in Banten Province. Identifying the base sector in each district/city in Banten Province, and predicting the base sector in the future in each Regency/City of Banten Province. Data used in this study is secondary data in the form of time series data to see Developments and changes that occur over a period of time. Data analysis used in this research is Location Quotient (LQ), Dynamic Location Quotient (DLQ), Williamson and Thiel Index. The results of this study are inequality that occurred in Banten is measured by using Williamson Index included in the category of Medium Inequality. On the measurement of Thiel Entropy Index, inequality in Lebak Regency is the lowest and Kota Cilegon has the highest imbalance in Banten Province.

Spatial development of Russia: main problems and approaches to the solution

The article discusses the problems of spatial development of modern Russia: the growth of interregional inequality, the increase of center-periphery differences and the disintegration of the economic space. It is argued that the key component of the government spatial policy should be institutional support for the synergy of interregional interaction. The necessary practical steps are justified: the priority development of the network of modern transport infrastructure; support for projects of interregional cooperation and initiatives aimed at creating high-tech products within the interaction of technologically complementary companies; the creation of economic macro-regions; reorientation of the budget system from inter-budget transfers to stimulating regional development.

Interregional inequality in environmental and economic development in the Russian Federation

Using the most popular measures of inequality and recent statistical data, the authors estimate interregional inequalities in Russia. The specific aim of this study is to identify inequality in well-being indicators, which were calculated using a multiplicative model based on the A. Sen extended function. Our calculations have revealed that there is a significant interregional differentiation in the social well-being level. The environmentally adjusted well-being exhibits higher levels of inequality than the indicator that does not take into account the environmental component. The paper shows that from 2008 to 2018 the gaps between Russian regions had in some cases increased.

RESEARCH OF INTERREGIONAL INEQUALITY: ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECT

Using the most popular measures of inequality and recent statistical data, the authors estimate interregional inequalities in Russia. The specific aim of this study is to identify inequality in well-being indicators, which were calculated using a multiplicative model based on the A. Sen extended function. It includes GRP per capita, share of personal incomes in GRP, cost of living index in the region, intra-regional income inequality and the integrated environmental index (it is defined as the arithmetic mean of the environmental indices calculated on the basis of the indicators: share of the negative water, air and soil tests). Using a multiplicative model, we evaluate the following social welfare indicators for Russian regions: indicator S (without the environmental component E); indicator SE (the environmental component E is defined as average of specific indices that take into account the air and water bodies state); indicator SEs (the environmental component E is defined as average of specific indices that take into account the air, water bodies and soil state). Our calculations have revealed that there is a significant interregional differentiation in the social well-being level. The environmentally adjusted well-being exhibits higher levels of inequality than the indicator that does not take into account the environmental component. The paper shows that from 2008 to 2019 the gaps between Russian regions had in some cases increased.

Inequality of digital access between Russian regions

With the development of digital technologies, an increasing number of economic relations are carried out via the Internet. The absence of Internet access may increase inequality within the regions and between them. This study aimed to measure the divide in the use of Internet technologies by organizations and households. This divide is the basis of digital inequality in the regions of the Russian Federation. As a method to achieve this goal, the authors propose using the index of rating assessment of digital access. This index was calculated for the private sector and households only to illustrate the arrearage of households in access to the Internet. During the analysis, the authors identified regions with high potential for the development of digitalization, as well as lagging regions, and analyzed sources of this lagging for the regions with low access to the Internet. The results of this study can be used as a method for the express analysis of the Internet development in the regions, determining the degree of interregional inequality in accessing digital services and improving the National Program of Digital Economy for Russia.

Value-added interregional inequality assessment of border regions in Russia

The economic development of Russian border regions is accompanied by a high level of interregional disparities both within the group of border regions and across the country. The purpose of the article is to assess the degree of interregional inequality of border regions in comparison with inner ones. Based on the key indicator of regional economic development, Gross Regional Product (GRP) per capita, various indicators of interregional inequality (coefficients of variation, the ratio of the maximum value to the minimum value, the Gini and Theil coefficients) were calculated, and σ-convergence and absolute β-convergence were estimated. Estimations of all indicators show that sharp changes in inequality, as well as the level of interregional inequality itself, are characteristic of border regions. For the interior regions, the dynamics are smoother, and the degree of inequality is significantly lower. This allows concluding that the main reason for the formation of interregional inequalities in Russia is inter-regional inequality in the group of border regions.

Determination of factors and conditions of financial and economic security

The security of a Federal state depends on the level of financial-economic security of its subjects. Goal setting at the regional level is related to strengthening financial autonomy, sustainability, and self-development. Achieving these goals is seen as possible if a sufficient number of diverse resources are available. Therefore, resource availability is a guarantee of security. The classification of financial and economic security factors is given. It is concluded that the key to economic development is to reduce interregional inequality and self-development of the territory. The main budget indicators are calculated for the Ulyanovsk region. In conclusion, a scheme of the relationship between economic policy and financial-economic security.