STRUCTURAL DEFORMATIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURAL LIMITATIONS AS SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO THE SPATIAL AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF NEW REGIONS

Abstract

The article examines the systemic barriers hindering the spatial and economic integration of the new regions of the Russian Federation, using the Donetsk People's Republic as an example. The authors demonstrate that structural distortions in the economy (imbalances in the sectoral structure, the dominance of micro-business, degradation of production potential) and infrastructure constraints (destruction of the transport and logistics network, energy isolation, jurisdictional gaps) form a persistent destructive cycle. Based on an analysis of empirical data and relevant sources, key barriers to integration have been identified. Building on the conceptual framework for overcoming institutional barriers proposed earlier, the authors put forward a specific methodological toolkit for its practical implementation. It includes: a formalized procedure for identifying barriers, a ranking tool based on a comparison of the threat posed by the persistence of the integration gap and the resource intensity of removing those barriers, as well as approaches to comprehensively linking structural and infrastructural problems. The proposed toolkit is designed for use in the preparation of regional development programs and makes it possible to build a consistent logic for eliminating systemic constraints - this constitutes the applied value of the study.