Quality and Factors of Economic Development: Matters of Evaluation and Analysis

Abstract

In this publication, the authors establish validity of the proposals on the methodology for analyzing the quality and factors of the economic development of the Russian Federation, not for the country in general (as it was done in the first part of the article, published in Voprosy Statistiki, No. 2 for 2020), but at the regional level. The main focus is to study the factors determining the quality of human capital as well as their specifics for several Russian regions. All the proposed methodological techniques of analysis are implemented on the example of the education sector that is fundamental for improving the quality of human capital during the emergence of a new technological paradigm, with account to raising and nurturing the creative generation of young people who will shape the new order. It is noted that amidst the development of modern technologies responsible for the transfer of data and knowledge, as well as standardization and regulation of the processes of providing services, it is necessary to maintain the content of education services, their focus on the shaping of a creative personality and transferring creative work skills. Only this shall ensure the country’s participation and its benefits in the creation of a new technological structure.The article examines factors that touch upon differentiation of regions by the level and quality of education, such as the state of the material and technical base, personnel availability and qualifications, terms for the provision of services, and others. The authors delve into the influence of region resource provision factors, remoteness from labour force centers of gravity, and emerging research centers, as well as national particularities and historical background of the regions. The data on the «personnel migration» of young people of educational and post-educational age are presented. Relevant conclusions are made about some depletion of this resource in several remote regions due to the attractive policies of strong regions.The authors argue that the regional efforts and the redistribution of funds through the federal budget, as well as business efforts, are not enough to reduce the regional differentiation in education quality. This requires tailored solutions allowing to use the potential of young people from remote regions and regions not affected by scientific centralization, as an important human development factor. The paper considers directions for solving this problem.