Transcript A program of analytical and advisory work on Russia`s

A program of analytical and
advisory work on Russia’s
regional development issues
Roundtable Brainstorming
Moscow, February 3 2009
Chorching Goh
Concentration, a fact of life,
Half of the world’s production…..
…at the global spatial scale…
….can fit onto 1.5% of its land, less than the size of Algeria
…at the national spatial scale
Even in a small country like Belgium, production is
concentrated in small areas
… at the local spatial scale
Cairo produces over half of Egypt’s GDP with just 0.5% of its land
Important to distinguish
the geography of economic production
from
the geography of social welfare
Countries can have
…an uneven economic landscape but a uniform social landscape
Spatial Concentration
Social Convergence:
In the United States, 100% of households have access to safe
drinking water and sewage; 100% school-age children have access
to schools
Korea, a successful development story…
Uneven economic production
… but
Universal access to services
Spatial Concentration
Social Convergence:
Some 98% population have access to healthcare services and basic schooling
In 2006, 99% children had immunization coverage
In 2000, 95% of population, age > 15 years, with at least 1year of schooling
Russia –
the past, present, and future
Before 1990: rather even economic
landscape & uniform social landscape
Today: both uneven economic and
uneven social landscapes
Future: uneven economic landscape
but uniform social landscape
Russia’s economic density
… is not particularly concentrated
… vis-à-vis its land area and level of development.
e.g., only 2% of the US land is built-up
e.g., In 2006, Singapore (< 700sq km) export approx same
amount ($300 bil) as Russia (> 16 million sq km)
Australia
Sweden
Norway
Canada
How to facilitate density?
Agglomerations and the growth of metropolitan areas
Policy priorities:
-- common institutions (e.g., property rights, regulations governing
land market – zoning laws-to ensure ease of land use conversion)
-- connective infrastructure (e.g., rail and highway links, integrated
transit & rail systems within and between metro areas)
-- targeted interventions (may not be necessary or applicable for Russia)
How to overcome distance?
Mobility -- workers and businesses migrate to economic opportunity
Policy priorities:
-- unifying institutions (e.g., access to social and basic services)
-- connective infrastructure
-- targeted interventions
How to lower division?
Specialization --
trade and integrate to access world markets
Russia in promising neighbourhoods: EU, most dynamic Northast Asia,…
Policy priorities:
-- Common Institutions
-- Connective infrastructure
-- targeted interventions