Economic-geographical assessment of the demographic situation and economic potential of the inter-capital Belarusian-Russian borderlands

  • Ekaterina A. Antipova Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Aliaksei N. Shavel Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Ilya I. Zaprudski Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
  • Andrei P. Bezruchonak Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33581/2521-6740-2021-2-63-81

Abstract

Geographic research of the phenomenon of inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian border region is an actual research area problem for the socio-economic geography of Belarus and Russia. This is due to the objective need to develop mechanisms of overcoming the demographic and economic peripherality of the region and embedding regional economic systems of border regions into the system of local relations. The purpose of the research is to identify the current distinctive features of the demographic and economic development of the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian border region with the establishment of its niche from the point of the central-peripheral approach. During the analysis of the demographic situation of the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian borderlands, it was established that, generally, in 1999–2019, its main feature was peripherality with the three zones established – the central demographic periphery, the buffer demographic periphery and the demographic semi-periphery – with a predominance in the structure of the first zone. Geographically, the central periphery zone is formed mainly by the rural borderland areas. According to the results of the analysis of the industrial development level, it was discovered that the inter-capital space of the Belarusian-Russian borderlands is characterised by a high degree of spatial inequality due to the development of large industrial centers around the existing periphery. This research had established a spatial differentiation of the transportation accessibility (by the connectivity of administrative centers of the borderlands) and the productivity of road transportation. The economicgeographical analysis of the foreign trade had revealed the diversity of directions and intensity of foreign goods trade between the Belarusian-Russian borderlands, mainly expressed in the predominance of the export-oriented regions with the per capita foreign trade turnover estimated at up to 2000 US dollars.

Author Biographies

Ekaterina A. Antipova, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

doctor of science (geography), full professor; professor at the department of economic and social geography, faculty of geography and geoinformatics

Aliaksei N. Shavel, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

senior lecturer at the department of economic and social geography, faculty of geography and geoinformatics

Ilya I. Zaprudski, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (geography); associate professor at the department of economic and social geography, faculty of geography and geoinformatics

Andrei P. Bezruchonak, Belarusian State University, 4 Niezaliežnasci Avenue, Minsk 220030, Belarus

PhD (geography), docent; head of the department of economic and social geography, faculty of geography and geoinformatics

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Published
2021-12-28
Keywords: inter-capital area, Belarusian-Russian borderlands, spatial unevenness, demographic situation, industrial production, foreign trade, transportation accessibility, periphery
Supporting Agencies The researching was carried out within the framework of the project of the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research and Russian Foundation for Basic Research «Inter-capital location as a factor of socio-economic development of the Russian-Belarusian border area» (agreement No. G20R-028).
How to Cite
Antipova, E. A., Shavel, A. N., Zaprudski, I. I., & Bezruchonak, A. P. (2021). Economic-geographical assessment of the demographic situation and economic potential of the inter-capital Belarusian-Russian borderlands. Journal of the Belarusian State University. Geography and Geology, 2, 63-81. https://doi.org/10.33581/2521-6740-2021-2-63-81
Issue
No 2 (2021): Journal of the Belarusian State University. Geography and Geology
Section
Geography

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