The aim of the study is to identify regions with the highest dependence on imports and assess the impact of imports on the dynamics of the manufacturing industry’s growth. The methodological framework of the study involves the use of well-known processing methods of regional static data. The paper presents an empirical study of imports volume and structure in the regional manufacturing industry for the period from 2005 to 2014, and groups them on the basis of the assessment of sustainability indicators. At the regional level, intermediate imports are characterized by a high heterogeneity both in absolute and relative terms. The significant volumes of imports are concentrated in few regions with a high industrial concentration. It allows to allocate regions with the greatest risks for the manufacturing sector in negative external environment. The study demonstrates the relationship of the intermediate imports with the growth dynamics of the manufacturing industry in a certain set of macroeconomic conditions, assuming the economic growth with the stable exchange rate and relatively high growth rate of the producer prices on the domestic market. We also found a positive impact of imports on the growth rate of manufacturing industry in this period due to the effects of market substitution. Thus, the limitation of import substitution in specialized regions at preservation of the basic external factors is emphasized. The obtained results can be used for strategic planning at various levels of management, defining the model and direction for growth of the industrial sector of the region and improving the methodological tools for further empirical research.

The study analyzes the relationship between the diversification of industry in its certain fields and characteristics of regional innovation systems. The relevance of this topic is due to a need to identify and verify the structural factors of sustainable development of the industry according to innovation scenarios. The study clarifies the methodological frameworks and the role of diversification as a factor of regional economic development. The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of diversification on innovative activity in the manufacturing industry. I present an empirical analysis of both the level of diversification of regional manufacturing industry and the selected indicators characterizing innovative activities. I define positive and negative trends of development. The level of diversification is characterized by high heterogeneity. It allows selecting the most and the least diversified regions. The analysis shows the significant regional difference in the level of innovative activity in the manufacturing industry, as well as in the share of the output of innovative products. On this basis, I assessed the regions taking into account the dynamics and the level of innovative activity in the manufacturing industry. The study has revealed a positive relationship between the level of diversification of manufacturing industry, innovative activity and the share of the output of high-tech products. This positive correlation is observed in all specifications and indicates the presence of externalities in industry development of the regions. The identified trends are more common for regions with a lower level of per capita gross domestic product. At the same time, I noted the limitations of using the diversification effects for the growth of innovative activity in the manufacturing industry. The results have both the theoretical and applied significance. Therefore, they may be applied when making strategic decisions related to the choice of directions for the territorial and sectoral development.

Industrial specialization is one of the main elements characterizing and systemizing the economy that in many ways defines the regional development’s level and dynamics. The study discusses the main features of industrial specialization in the context of the need to assess structural factors and prospects for regional development. The research methodology is based on developing the concept of diversified space and involves the analysis of statistical data reflecting the nature and trends of industrial development in the regions. Regional specialization is characterized as a separate phenomenon, assessed in relationship with close categories. Additionally, the paper specifies the place of industrial specialization among the factors of regional development. I describe the features and limitations of medium-term research of industrial specialization in Russian conditions. Then I assess the level and medium-term trends in the industrial specialization of the Russian regions. Industrial specialization is measured for the period from 2005 to 2017 based on official statistical data on the employment aggregated by sector and region. I applied a statistical indicator based on the adapted Spearman’s coefficient for studying the main characteristic s of the relationship between specialization and the regional development’s parameters. The conducted analysis has identified the stable groups of regions with significant trends in the industrial specialization’s level. The relationship between the growth rate s o f regional manufacturing industry, the level and dynamics of relative specialization in various specifications has been empirically studied. In the majority of the Russian regions, the level of relative specialization was positively related with the dynamics of industrial development. Growing industrial specialization could help achieve faster and more stable economic growth. The results can be used in theoretical and empirical studies of regional development, including investment policy. The ambiguity of some results substantiates the directions for further research of various features of specialization in Russian regions: the multidimensionality of measurement, directions of evolution depending on regional potential, spatial and temporal continuity of specialization.