UDC: 332.12
https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-2-27


viewing

ASSESMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RUSSIA’S BORDER REGIONS BASED ON THE INDEX THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS

I. A. Golubtsov
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
e-mail: GolubtsovIA@spa.msu.ru

Abstract. The problem of institutional support for the border territories of the Russian Federation has intensified against the backdrop of geoeconomic uncertainty, sanctions restrictions, and the reformatting of logistics corridors. Despite growing demand for project support and a «single-window» approach for investors, the quality of development institutions remains highly uneven across regions. The relevance of this study stems from the need for a comparable diagnostic tool that allows for linking institutional parameters with the economic activity and adaptability of territories, thereby improving the targeting of support measures. The objective of this study is to substantiate an approach to quantitatively assessing the state of development institutions and identify areas of project-based institutional specialization in border regions. The methodological framework incorporates principles of institutional and regional economics, methods for constructing composite indices (min-max standardization, equal-weight aggregation), typology, and comparative analysis. A development institution index (DISI) is proposed, calculated as the average value of the adaptability (AI), local actor involvement (LAI), and institutional-spatial density (ISD) sub-indices. For typology, the DISI is combined with the integrated assessment of institutional-economic adaptability (IEA). Based on pilot calculations for 2020–2023 and the positioning of regions within the «IEA–DISI» field, typical combinations of economic dynamics and institutional state are identified. These combinations are used to select priority support contours and configure project support KPIs. The practical significance of the results lies in the applicability of the ISID as a tool for screening bottlenecks in development institutions and substantiating differentiated decisions to strengthen the regulatory, infrastructural, financial and investment, entrepreneurial, and human resources/technological frameworks. The index’s limitations are related to aggregation and the need to supplement it with qualitative expertise during program development.

Key words: border regions, regional economy, development institutions, index analysis, regional typology, project management, investment projects, institutional density, adaptability.

Cite as: Golubtsov, I. A. (2026) [Assessment of institutional conditions for economic growth in Russia’s border regions based on the index of the state of development institutions]. Intellekt. Innovacii. Investicii [Intellect. Innovations. Investments]. Vol. 2, pp. 27–36. – https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-2-27.


References

  1. Voloshenko, K. Yu. (2024) [Changing Role of Border Regions in Ensuring Russia’s Economic Security]. Nauchnyye trudy: Institut narodnokhozyaystvennogo prognozirovaniya RAN [Scientific Works: Institute of Economic Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences]. Vol. 22. No. 1, pp. 91–115. – https://doi.org/10.47711/2076-3182-2024-1-91-115. (In Russ.).
  2. Golubtsov, I. A. (2024) [Analysis of global practices for stimulating the economy in border areas]. Problemy teorii i praktiki upravleniya [Problems of Management Theory and Practice]. Vol. 5–6, pp. 58–71. (In Russ.).
  3. Kuznetsova, O. V. (2023) [Rating of Scientific and Technological Development of Regions: Approaches, Results, and Challenges]. Problemy prognozirovaniia [Problems of Forecasting]. Vol. 4 (199), pp. 94–103. – https://doi.org/10.47711/0868-6351-199-94-103. (In Russ.).
  4. Leontyeva, L. S., Golubtsov, I. A. (2026) [Development of a Methodology for Assessing the System of Cross- Border Relations]. Vestnik RGGU. Seriya «Ekonomika i upravleniye» [Bulletin of the Russian State University for the Humanities. Series «Economics and Management»]. Vol. 4, pp. 89–106. – https://doi.org/10.28995/3033-7216-2025-4-89-106. (In Russ.).
  5. Mitrofanova, I. V., Ivanova, T. B. (2023) [Regional Development Institutions: Status and Performance (Based on Small and Medium-Sized Entrepreneurship in the Regions of Southern Russia)]. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ekonomika [Bulletin of Volgograd State University. Economics]. Vol. 25. No. 3, pp. 51–64. – https://doi.org/10.15688/ek.jvolsu.2023.3.5. (In Russ.).
  6. Moroshkina, M. V. (2022) [Socio-economic differentiation of border regions on the example of Russia and Finland: factor analysis]. Vestnik Rossiyskogo universiteta druzhby narodov. Seriya: Ekonomika [Bulletin of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. Series: Economics]. Vol. 30. No. 4, pp. 562–576. – https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2329-2022-30-4-562-576. (In Russ.).
  7. Patrusheva, E. G., Solovyeva, D. D., Podgornova, K. I. (2023) [Activities of regional development institutions to promote investment projects in modern economic conditions]. Teoreticheskaya ekonomika [Theoretical Economics]. Vol. 11 (107), pp. 53–63. (In Russ.).
  8. Sebentsov, A. B. (2024) [Cross-border cooperation in Russia’s borderlands: in search of new approaches and forms]. Oykumena. Regionovedcheskiye issledovaniya [Oikumena. Regional studies]. Vol. 4 (71), pp. 11–25. – https://doi.org/10.29039/1998-6785/2024-4/11-25. (In Russ.).
  9. Farkhutdinova, A. U. (2025) [Development institutions as a tool for increasing the self-sufficiency of a territory’s economy]. Ekonomika i upravleniye: nauchno-prakticheskiy zhurnal [Economy and management: scientific and practical journal]. Vol. 2 (182), pp. 62–68. – https://doi.org/10.34773/EU.2025.2.11. (In Russ.).
  10. Borsekova, K., et al. (2026) Decoding regional dynamics: Institutions, innovation, and regional development in the EU. Papers in Regional Science. Vol. 105(1), pp. 13–27. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pirs.2025.100133. (In Eng.).
  11. Boschma, R. (2015) Towards an evolutionary perspective on regional resilience. Regional Studies. Vol. 49, pp. 733–751. – https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2014.959481. (In Eng.).
  12. Bristow, G., Healy, A. (2014) Regional resilience: An agency perspective. Regional Studies. Vol. 48, pp. 923–935. – https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2013.854879. (In Eng.).
  13. Crescenzi, R., Di Cataldo, M., Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2016) Government quality and the economic returns of transport infrastructure investment in European regions. Journal of Regional Science. Vol. 56. No. 4, pp. 555–582. – https://doi.org/10.1111/jors.12264. (In Eng.).
  14. Crescenzi, R., Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2012) Infrastructure and regional growth in the European Union. Papers in Regional Science. Vol. 91. No. 3, pp. 487–513. – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1435-5957.2012.00439.x. (In Eng.).
  15. Fejes, Z. (2023) Evolution of cross-border cooperation in the European Union - challenges and opportunities. Social Horizons. Vol. 3. No. 5, pp. 55–78. – https://doi.org/10.5937/drushor2305055F (In Eng.).
  16. Filip, M.-D., Setzer, R. (2025) The impact of regional institutional quality on economic growth and resilience in the EU. European Central Bank Working Paper Series. No. 3045, 41 p. (In Eng.).
  17. Martin, R. (2012) Regional economic resilience, hysteresis and recessionary shocks. Journal of Economic Geography. Vol. 12. No. 1, pp. 1–32. – https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbr019. (In Eng.).
  18. North, D. C. (1990) Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 152 p. (In Eng.).
  19. Peng, S. (2026) Building digital advantage through data connectivity: Cross-Border data flow and the evolution of regional trade. International Review of Economics & Finance. Vol. 106. Article 104880. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iref.2025.104880. (In Eng.).
  20. Rodríguez-Pose, A., Ganau, R. (2022) Institutions and the productivity challenge for European regions. Journal of Economic Geography. Vol. 22. No. 1, pp. 1–25. – https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbab003. (In Eng.).
  21. Sondermann, D. (2018) Towards more resilient economies: The role of well-functioning economic structures. Journal of Policy Modeling. Vol. 40(1), pp. 97–117. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2018.01.002. (In Eng.).

In order for us to provide you with high-quality services, we use cookies that are stored on your computer (location information; ip-address; type, language, OS and browser version; device type and screen resolution; source from which you came to site the user; what pages the user opens and what buttons the user clicks; the same information is used to process statistical data on the use of the site through the Yandex.Metrika Internet service). By clicking the "I agree" button, you confirm that you are informed about the use of cookies on our website. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.