Interterritorial socio-economic differentiation is one of the main internal challenges that hamper sustainable development of Russian regions and impede the transition of the economy to a new techno-economic paradigm. The weakening of economic ties and the uneven distribution of resources have led to an increase not only in interregional, but also in intraregional inequality in the development of territories; this disrupts the cohesion of the common economic space. In this regard, it becomes necessary to substantiate scientifically the mechanism of territorial development regulation that can reduce the scale of intraregional differentiation and overcome its negative implications; this predetermined the goal of our study. We use the data on the Vologda Oblast to systematize and analyze factors that cause intraregional differentiation; we identify the most significant of them, assess the scale and depth of socio-economic differentiation, determine the trends of change in socio-economic development of municipal districts, and substantiate the use of methods that help decrease the inequality of territories. We use analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, as well as methodological tools based on economic-statistical and comparative analysis and expert survey, as a methodological basis of the study. Scientific novelty of our research findings consists in the fact that they help develop methods to analyze, evaluate and regulate intraregional differentiation. The findings of our study can be used by federal and regional authorities and serve as a basis for further research on this topic to facilitate a more detailed study of a differentiated approach to the implementation of state support measures provided to municipalities with different development levels and capacities
Keywords
socio-economic development, vologda oblast, municipal entities, regulation mechanism, intraregional differentiation