A Core-Periphery Pattern in Russia – Twin Peaks or a Rat’s Tail

Due to its transition process in the decades 1990 - 2010 Russia has experienced a change in its regional structure. Its design is characterized by a core-periphery structure, where one can see that Russia has more than one economic core. The insight gained from this study is that convergence happens in Russia but only on a minor scale. Most of this economic convergence is a convergence of different convergence clubs becoming more similar or merging in contrast to a divergence inside the clubs. Furthermore, growth spillovers are analysed and it is observed that there are almost no significant positive growth effects across the Russian regions. Therefore, no endogenous forces are dynamic sources of the present regional structure of the Russian Federation.