A Regional Perspective on the Economic Development of the late Russian Empire

90 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2015 Last revised: 24 May 2019

See all articles by Andrei Markevich

Andrei Markevich

University of Helsinki - Faculty of Social Sciences; New Economic School

Date Written: May 14, 2019

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relative impacts of geographical and institutional factors on the economic development of the late Russian empire. I reconstruct gross regional products and labor productivity for all provinces of the empire around 1900 for the first time. My estimates highlight substantial heterogeneity within a middle-income country. I show that both natural advantages – sea access, mineral resources, land abundance – and institutions, in particular the legacy of serfdom, account for the observed variation. I also provide evidence that market potential and specialization externalities played a role.

Keywords: Russia, national accounting, economic development, geography, institutions

JEL Classification: N13, N15

Suggested Citation

Markevich, Andrei, A Regional Perspective on the Economic Development of the late Russian Empire (May 14, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2555273 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2555273

Andrei Markevich (Contact Author)

University of Helsinki - Faculty of Social Sciences ( email )

Helsinki
Finland

New Economic School ( email )

45 Skolkovskoe shosse
Moscow, 121353
Russia

HOME PAGE: http://https://andreimarkevich.com

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