Assessment of sustainable development of Russian regions

ABSTRACT Regions as socio-economic systems face various challenges caused by global processes including world market fluctuations, large-scale migrations and environmental problems. Identifying the factors capable of throwing a regional system off the path of sustainable development will allow decision-makers to find effective remedies. In Russia, the transition to sustainable development has been complicated by a high degree of interregional differentiation of development and resource potential, as well as limitations in the regional strategic planning system. This study identifies significant differences in the extent to which the development of Russia’s regions is sustainable, the factors contributing to these differences and the ways in which strategic planning may help move in the direction of greater sustainability.