Udmurt branch of Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of RAS

Abstract

At the current stage the provision of sustainable and balanced development is considered as the most important strategic priority of Russia in the medium-range and long-range prospects. The discussion concerning relationship between processes of polarization and evening up of social and economic development of regions is going on. Innovation vector fixed in documents of state strategic planning stipulates a new vision of economic processes and requires elaboration of an effective mechanism for upgrading the spatial structure of national economy. In these conditions the research demand for laws of spatial development, continuity and non-contradictoriness of fundamental concepts and new approaches in spatial economics becomes more and more acute. The article provides a review of foreign and home research dealing with theoretical and applied issues of spatial organization of economic activity. Classic and neo-classic theories of overseas academic schools in view of their essence and novelty are studied and advanced theories and models of spatial development are systematized. The author addresses to the academic stock and to advanced fundamental and empiric research carried out by Russian academic schools of spatial economics, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Siberia, Far East and Urals. The author’s wording of the definition ‘spatial localization’ is proposed in the context of complimentary spatial object interaction (authors, production systems, administrative and territorial units). A conclusion was drawn about the necessity of integral approach to methodology of spatial economics taking into account dissipation and inequality of today’s economic systems.