Study on the relationships between rural and agricultural development and human resource development in Russian Federation since 2000s

Abstract

The main purpose of the study is to clarify the relationship between Rural and Agricultural Development and Human Resource Development in Russian Federation since 2000s. In order to achieve our purpose, the methodologies of Data Envelopment Analysis, Stochastic Frontier Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling are used to verify our hypotheses in the paper. Analytical results from the research clarified that agricultural development in Russia has made a significant progress since 2000s, it has improved the nation’s food security and rural development, especially since 2010, a positive relationship between agricultural development and human resource development has increased. However, rural and agricultural development in Russia has been uneven across regions; some regions such as Siberian Federal District has left behind the development. It also clarified that structural changes in the agricultural sector have impacts not only on agriculture but also on rural development. Although, agricultural enterprises remain important role in the agricultural performance among others, and its impact on human capital couldn’t be clarified. Policy implications drawn from the research both for the central and regional governments indicated that rural and agricultural development in Russia should pay more attention to Human Resource Development and Rural Development when considering food security in a long-term perspective. Especially the impact of structural changes in agriculture sector on the human capital in rural areas needs careful analysis.