Spatial Economy Research: Trends, Problems and Priorities

Abstract

The article provides a brief overview of research in the field of spatial economics. Among the identified trends in the development of these studies is the expansion of the theoretical construction of economic space, which at different stages included more and more new elements; at the moment this trend has exhausted itself and produces destructive works without reference to specific problems. The second trend is associated with the movement towards the synchronization of all factors of spatial economy development due to the neutralization of individual influences from the established territorial environment. The third trend has led to the exhaustion of specific analytical tools of spatial economy and their unification, bringing to the forefront the thoughtfulness of the initial problem statement and the conjugation of the analytical results with the practice of state regulation. The result of many years of development of the spatial economy problematics was noticeable success in descriptive modeling against the background of almost complete failure in its normative part: we know a lot about what the development of territories depends on, but the parameters of the spatial economy are beyond the influence of federal and regional management systems. The most promising directions of research in this area are discussed. Two of them are highlighted: turning academic research into the first step of comprehensive design of territorial development and integrating it into the format of modern reform theory; intensifying the study of the issues of innovation diffusion between territories in order to reduce interregional gaps in development. A two-step mechanism of borrowing achievements between territories is proposed, based on the combination of the procedure of stimulating advanced regions with the subsequent transfer of their experience and technological results to lagging territories.