The Influence of Political Competition on the Efficiency of the Regional Executives in Russia

Abstract

The research is dedicated to the analysis of the relation between political competition that measured as the sum total of the electorate competition and the consolidation of the elite, as well as of the effectiveness of the fulfillment of the social and economic responsibilities of the regional authorities. The results of the analysis show that though the influence of the political competition within hybrid Russian regional political regimes is significant, it lacks some definite direction, as well as shows itself very selectively (mostly in health service and budgetary management) and is based upon weak social links, which is quite typical for partly institutionalized feedback and socio-political control channels.

Keywords: political competition, subnational political regimes, efficiency, Russian regions.

JEL Classification: D72.