In the article, the authors consider the quality of life as an objective and its indicators as the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of balanced spatial development. The problem of measuring the quality of life has a complex and integrated nature, therefore, we should develop the practice of ratings in its spatial comparisons. The article demonstrates the possibility of using the rating lists of the quality of life of Russian regions by the rating agency “RIA Rating” for 2013–2015 as an information tool for the analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of the public development of the regional administration. The authors have concluded that with a consecutive growth of an average value of the integrated rating index of quality of life, the different ways of assessing the degree of differentiation of the regions according to the quality of life provide conflicting results. It is necessary to pay attention not so much to ranging and grading of regions as to their classification depending on to the nature of typical problems. Therefore, the rating scale is structured on the basis of the “problematic principle of regional grouping”. The authors have proposed the method of the gradation of the rating scale, allowing to take into account the direction of change of the region’s position in the ranking. The relevance of the rating as a key information tool to reduce the regional differentiation of the life quality of the population among the regulatory bodies and civil society will increase if: it is also used for other subnational entities of the Russian Federation; there is the use of econometric and computational capabilities of high-tech software systems for a posteriori analysis and models for strategic forecasting of the rankings; there is the search of a synergistic effect from a variety of estimates of the degree of spatial development.

The study aims to identify and analyse the dynamics of “propulsive industries”, considered as drivers of economic growth and stabilizers of economic security of the regions of Russia’s Western borderland in the period of geopolitical turbulence (2013–2018). We are particularly interested in the identification of industries regarded as drivers of regional economic growth during the crisis of the Russia’s economy and its individual regions. The article presents the results of a study, supported by the grant of Russian Science Foundation No. 18–17–00112 «Ensuring the Economic Safety of Russia’s Western Borderlands amid of Geopolitical Turbulence» and by the grant No. 18–310–20016 of Russian Foundation for Basic Research. “Propulsive industries” are characterised by a high level of the adaptation of technologies, and export and innovation potential, which determine the fifth and sixth technological order. The state and dynamics of these industries support region’s economic security and the level of competitiveness, especially under difficult conditions of geopolitical turbulence (2013–2018). We conducted analysis based on data on net value added, produced by the main types of economic activity. Then, we assessed value added for enterprises and organisations subject to value added tax in the regions of Russia’s Western borderland. Thus, the study is based on tax statistics provided in the reports of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation. We selected and substantiated some types of activity as the “propulsion industries” that determine the economic security, and region’s export and innovation potential. They include “production of medicines and materials used for medical purposes”, “production of computers, electronic and optical products”, “production of aircrafts, including spacecraft, and related equipment”, “information and communication activities” and “professional, scientific and technical activities”. Th e study’ s statistica l an d quantitativ e bas e i s buil t o n dat a o n value added tax (VAT). Based on these data, we calculated the net value added for the main types of economic activity produced by enterprises and organisations subject to VAT. The study has shown that the industry «Production of computers, electronic and optical products» is propulsive for the majority of the regions of Western borderland. The research results will be reflected in the implementation of our team’s fundamental developments, including the projects of Russian Science Foundation and Russian Foundation for Basic Research.