Economic development of regions during reforming the constitutional and legal model of power delineation in Russian Federation

Abstract

According to the Russian Federation Constitution, all constituent entities have equal rights. However, equal rights are not synonymous with equality. Equal rights mean legal equality only; in other meanings, they differ significantly from each other. However, if the territorial, demographic and some other differences of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are the result of objective reasons, and in general do not affect the quality of life of the Russians living there, then the economic differences have more serious consequences. The article makes and attempt to examine the possibilities of economic independence increase in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The authors state that the currently existing model of power delimitation is based on the consolidation of the main powers of the federal authorities, while the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are mainly entrusted with financially-intensive powers, which are not always provided with the necessary resources. This matter allows the federal center to accumulate significant financial resources with their subsequent distribution across regions, often in accordance with subjective and non-transparent criteria. In addition, the authors propose the measures to change this situation, in particular, an assessment of power implementation effectiveness at a specific level of power; the ensured provision of the constituent entity powers of the Russian Federation with the necessary resources; use of the system of minimum state social standards.