The urban system of Russia from 1991–2020: gradual development instead of radical transformation

ABSTRACT An analysis of the evolution of the urban system of the Russian Federation in the period from 1991 to 2020 reveals an increase in heterogeneity of city development due to the growth of large cities and a decrease in the population of small cities, alongside a spatial shift in an east–west direction, although these changes are far less marked and slower than originally anticipated at the start of the transition from a planned to a market economy. Market potential, specialization, infrastructure, the administrative status of the city and geographical location all play a role, but market potential and its individual components have ambiguous effects because negative competitive aspects of interregional relations outweigh positive cooperative aspects and positive effects work mainly at the level of the individual subjects of the Russian Federation.