The Economic Aspect of the Image of Well-Being of the Kursk Region: Comparative Analysis of Statistical Indicators of the Chernozem Regions
The relevance of the topic of the article is due to the uneven level of economic development among the regions of the Chernozem region. The need for a comparative analysis of economic factors of well-being is associated with determining the best indicators among the regions, and identifying the Kursk region's place in this rating. The purpose of the article is the economic characteristics of the well-being of the Chernozem regions and their comparative analysis. Objectives: to consider the theoretical aspects of the formation of the image of well-being; to consider the system of economic indicators that make up the image of well-being; to provide statistical data for the Kursk region, as well as for other regions of the Chernozem region (Voronezh, Lipetsk, Tambov, Belgorod regions); to conduct a comparative analysis of the obtained indicators for the regions of the Chernozem region; Methodology. The study was carried out on the basis of a systematic approach within the framework of structural-functionalism using universal scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis, generalization, as well as the method of correlation analysis. Results. In the course of the study, criteria were identified, on the basis of which we derived economic parameters by which well-being was measured. Further, statistical data were collected according to the selected parameters, with which computational manipulations were carried out, in particular, the dynamics index was calculated. The data were analyzed and compared by region. Conclusions. Economic indicators, among which we used the levels of GRP, unemployment and employment, showed an ambiguous picture in which the Kursk region occupies a median position in a number of regions of the Black Earth region, having average indicators and growth rates of indicators. However, the unemployment rate of the Kursk region, considered in dynamics, allows us to judge higher rates of unemployment decline, which is good for the region, but does not give grounds to call the Kursk region more or less prosperous in comparison with the rest.