Migration Links Between Russia's Regions for 50 years: Methodology of the Study

Abstract

The article contains the development and justification of the methodology of comparative historical analysis of migration ties between the regions of Russia for 50 years, from the late 1960s - until the end of 2010s. Such analysis has never been conducted before. As a result, the method of its conduct can be useful for any other comparative studies of migration ties, both in Russia and in other territories. Much has changed in the inter-regional analysis of Russian migration since the late 1960s. A different method and procedure for accounting and assessing the population, as well as its resettlement (permanent migration). The administrative division of the Russian Federation (RSFSR) has changed. Demographics, including migration information, have become more accessible and diverse, although its quality and comparability in time have fallen. In 2007-2008, a complete methodology for statistical analysis of interregional migrations was developed, indicators and analysis methods were organized, expanded and improved. Nevertheless, the historical analysis of migration ties between the regions of Russia faces a number of difficulties. First of all, it is the paucity of information left over from that time. There is only one type of indicator of the closeness of migration ties. These are the intensity of interregional migration by arrival (KIMS arrivals), as well as population estimates of Russian regions for individual years of that period. Another difficulty is the imbalance of arrival and departure numbers between regions identified during the study. The amount of departures to the territory under review from other regions does not equal to the amount of arrivals to the territory under consideration from other regions. The main results of the article are the solution of the above problems, allowing to compare in time migration ties correctly and as fully as possible. As an example, part of the analysis of migration ties of one of the territories of the Far East of Russia is given