In Memory of the Regional Khozraschyot: The Dilemmas of Russian Federalism

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the problems of promoting regional economic growth in Russia. Despite the efforts directed at the reforms of budgeting and political systems the interregional disbalances still persist. Unevenness of socio-economic development in the Russion regions leads to further centralization and may threat the existence of the federation. The paper draws an analogy between the Soviet elaboration of «khozraschyot» mechanisms and the Russian enhancement of federalism. In the latter case the attempts at reforming are performed using the paradigm that is marked by methodological contradictions and therefore is of no use for the improvement of Russian federalism.