RESEARCH OF INTERREGIONAL INEQUALITY: ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECT

Abstract

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.