Human potential of the cross‐border macroregions of the Russian Federation: conditions and development opportunities

Modern global shifts affecting the priorities of Russia interaction with other countries are actualizing the study of the potentials of cross‐border territories and their development opportunities, taking into account the possibilities of cross‐border cooperation. The authors of the article focus on the socio‐economic situation of the cross‐border macroregions of the European and Asian parts of Russia and their human potential. Aim. To identify and compare the potential of the cross‐bordering macroregions of the European and Asian parts of Russia. Object. Macroregions of the cross‐border zone of the Russian Federation. Methods. Thematic review of sources on cross‐border territories, a method for clustering regions into cross‐border macroregions, statistical and comparative analysis of cross‐border macroregions by economic and human potential. Hypothesis. The assumption that the cross‐bordering macroregions differ significantly in socio‐economic situation, which is reflected in the accumulation of human (demographic and social) capital. The article provides an analysis of three groups of indicators: economic, demographic and social for selected cross‐border macro‐regions at the level of large geographical clusters of the European and Asian parts of Russia. The data obtained indicate a marked differentiation of the cross‐bordering macroregions both economically and demographically. The greatest vulnerability was observed in the macroregions of the Asian part of Russia, which resulted in a significant outflow of population and low birth rates in these territories. The authors of the article concluded that in the cross‐border macroregions of the European and Asian parts of Russia for 2013–2022 there was a decrease in human potential against the background of continuing economic peripherality and insufficient investment in human capital.