An advantageous geographical location, diverse natural resource potential and a high level of urbanization of the territory are the main features that the Central Economic Region has. Characteristics and a detailed description of the economic specialization of this area are presented in this article.

History and features of economic zoning in Russia

The expanses of Russia are conditionally divided by geographers and economists into 12 territorial units. One of them is the Central Economic Region. Characteristics and a full description of this area are presented below.

It should be noted that the first serious attempts to regionalize the territory of Russia according to economic parameters were made back in the 19th century. Various scientists became involved in this important matter. Among them is K.I. Arsenyev, P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, D.I. Richter and even Dmitry Mendeleev. The main criteria for early attempts at economic zoning were the zonal characteristics of agriculture, as well as the population density of the territories.

Central economic region: brief description and general figures

The Central Economic Region (abbreviated as CER) is one of the key regions for the development of the national economy of the Russian state.

A general description of the Central Economic Region involves highlighting a number of points according to the following plan:

1. General information about the area.
2. Characteristics of his environment.
3. and resources.
4. Economy of the region and features of its location.
5. The main problems and development prospects.

The characteristics of the Central Economic Region, obviously, should begin with general statistical data about it. Thus, the CER occupies an area of ​​514 thousand square kilometers, which can be compared with a country such as Spain. Over 30 million people live within this economic region.

The region itself included 13 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: these are 12 different regions, as well as the capital - the city of Moscow.

Central economic region: characteristics of the environment

CER directly borders on four other economic regions: in the north - with the North-West, in the north-east - with the North, in the south-east - with the Volga-Vyatka. On the southern side it is adjacent to the Central Black Earth economic region, the characteristics and formation of which were closely related to the main natural wealth of this territory - fertile black soil (hence the name).

In the west, the CER goes to the state border with such European countries as Belarus and Ukraine, which is a good advantage for the development of foreign economic relations of the region.

The characteristics of the Central Economic Region of Russia are, first of all, a description of its economic, geographical and transport location.

The geographical location of the region has great advantages, which largely compensates for the scarcity of energy resources in this territory. Important land roads have long crossed here, which contributed to the economic development of these lands. The Volga River, the largest waterway in Eastern Europe, also plays an important role in the development of the region.

Perhaps the Central Black Earth economic region can boast of the closest ties with this region. The characteristics of these relationships, it is important to note, are not limited to the exchange of certain goods. Thus, between the cities of the two economic regions there are close ties in the fields of science, education, culture and tourism.

Natural resource potential

In terms of natural resource reserves, the region, alas, is not a leader in the country. They, rather, have a purely intra-regional significance.

The climate and topography of the territory are very favorable for the development of a full-fledged agro-industrial complex. Here you can grow potatoes, grain, develop vegetable growing and gardening. This is facilitated by the potentially large domestic market of consumers of agricultural products, consisting of a number of large cities.

If we consider mineral resources, the CER is rich in brown coal, peat, phosphorites, and rare earth metals. It is known that within the area there are deposits of oil and gas, as well as diamonds. However, the development of these deposits has not yet been carried out.

Unfortunately, the coal industry in the region is in crisis. Brown coal mined in the Moscow region is of low quality and expensive. In this regard, the Mosbassugol enterprise, which is engaged in the extraction of this raw material, is unprofitable. Almost all the profits go just to keep the mines in working order. After all, 70% of them are for their cities and towns. Therefore, the brown coal industry in the Moscow region needs urgent and comprehensive reform.

Population and level of urbanization

62 people per square meter - this is precisely the indicator of population density that distinguishes the Central Economic Region. The characteristics of the population of this region have several key features, namely:

• record population density for Russia;
• population growth due to the influx of migrants from neighboring economic regions, as well as countries (mainly to Moscow);
• a very high percentage of the urban population.

The Moscow, Tula and Ivanovo regions of the region are more densely populated than all the others. The urbanization rate in the Central Economic Region today is about 83%. Within the economic region there are 248 cities, among which is the largest urban agglomeration in Europe - Moscow, with a population of about 20 million people.

The key issue in the CER is the problem of employment and unemployment. The authorities are trying to actively solve this problem. This is especially effective in the capital region.

Economy and features of its territorial location

Characteristics of the Central Economic Region of the Russian Federation are impossible without a description of its industry. The leading and most highly developed region is mechanical engineering. In particular - transport, electrical engineering, machine tool and shipbuilding.

Cars and trucks are produced in Moscow, buses in Likino-Dulevo, diesel locomotives in Kolomna. The cities of Moscow, Rybinsk and Kostroma are centers of shipbuilding and ship repair. The production of machine tools and various devices (including watches) is concentrated in the capital, as well as in Ryazan, Smolensk and Vladimir.

The chemical complex is also very developed in the Center. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, plastics and synthetic rubber are produced here. Of course, in an area with such a high population, there are textile and printing plants, as well as food industry enterprises, which for the most part gravitate towards the capital.

Main problems and prospects for the development of the region

Among the most pressing problems of the CER are the following:

• underdevelopment;
• crisis of the coal industry;
• the need for complete reconstruction of old enterprises;
• the need for comprehensive agrarian reforms.

It is worth noting that CER is characterized by very high investment efficiency.

Finally...

The Central Economic Region is one of the key regions for the country's national economy. This is due to a number of beneficial advantages of this territory. Characteristics of the Central Economic Region is distinguished by its extremely favorable transport location, as well as close connections with other economic regions of Russia, and not only.

Central economic region

The central economic region of Russia includes the city of Moscow and 12 regions: Bryansk, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Tver, Kaluga, Kostroma, Moscow, Oryol, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tula and Yaroslavl.

The region occupies an area of ​​485.1 thousand km 2 (2.8% of the area of ​​Russia), but at the same time concentrates 20.4% of the population of Russia, 23% of cities, 18% of urban-type settlements. The population in 2010 was 30.5 million people.

The main reasons for the outstanding economic significance of the Center lie in the peculiarities of its historical development. The modern Center grew out of the ancient core of the Russian state, which developed around Moscow. Here, on the ancestral Russian lands, a densely populated, economically developed region was formed many centuries ago. The leading economic position of Central Russia continued later.

At all stages of the Center's development, the geographic location of this area occupied a large role in determining its fate. Thanks to the leading economic role of Moscow, the surrounding area turned its central geographical location into a central transport one, since in ancient times the main trade routes crossed here. And at present, the position of the Center in the middle of the most densely populated and economically developed part of the country, in the largest junction of transport routes, at the “crossroads” of the most important economic ties between different regions has a very great influence on the entire course of development of this region. The presence of a capital region also has a huge impact on the development of the CER regions. Moscow has developed economic, cultural, scientific, transport, supply and other connections with the regions of the region.

CER ranks first in the country in terms of economic development, represented by large modern industry, highly developed agriculture, transport, trade and other sectors of material production. The sphere of material production is characterized by a high degree of concentration of production of the most important types of products, cooperation and combination, infrastructure development along with significant equipment and highly qualified personnel. The area specializes in mechanical engineering, chemical, petrochemical, and textile industries. 4/5 of mechanical engineering products, 1/2 of the chemical and 3/4 of the textile industry are involved in inter-district exchange, which indicates a high level of development of these industries. CER also occupies a leading place in Russia in the production of milk, meat, eggs, vegetables, potatoes, and fiber flax. The national economic role of the Center is determined not only by the significant volume of industrial production and high quality of products, but also by the presence of a powerful scientific, design and experimental base. Science and scientific services employ 1/3 of all workers in this industry in the country.

So, the starting conditions for the development of the economy:

• old industrial character of the area;
• concentration of highly qualified personnel;
• metropolitan position;
• natural resource poverty;
• the role of the region as the main scientific and technical base of the country.

Natural resource potential of the Center, its economic and geographical assessment

Among the regions of our country, the Center stands out more than any other for the “moderation” of its nature.

Relief. The CER as a whole is characterized by flat terrain, due to the peculiarities of the geological structure. This territory is tectonically part of the vast Russian Platform. Although the Center as a whole is a flat region, within its boundaries one can quite clearly distinguish regions of different relief types.

In the northwest is the Valdai Upland, adjacent to vast lowlands. To the south in the latitudinal direction through Smolensk, Vyazma and further stretches the Smolensk Upland. In the southwest, the Dnieper Lowland borders the Center. In the southeast of the Center there is one of the links in a vast belt of lowlands, one of which is the Meshchera Lowland. The southern part of the Center lies within the Central Russian Upland, which in the east passes into the Oka-Don lowland. The most depressed part of the region is the Oka River valley.

Mineral resources. Compared to other regions of Russia, the Center is relatively poor in natural, especially mineral, resources. The available resources of fuel, iron ores, and some non-metallic minerals, as a rule, occupy a very modest place both quantitatively and qualitatively. This position of the Center especially stands out precisely in connection with the industrial development of this area, emphasizing the discrepancy between its limited natural resources and powerful economic potential.

The Center's fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal and peat located near Moscow; This is a low quality and relatively expensive fuel. Coal was discovered in a wide belt called the Moscow Basin. The explored reserves of this basin amount to about 4 billion tons. The Tula and Kaluga regions have the largest resources. This coal is characterized by high ash content, moisture content and sulfur content. Peat, due to the widespread occurrence of swamps, is available almost everywhere in the northern half of the Center. The largest peat deposits are located within the Meshcherskaya and Upper Volga lowlands. The low calorie content and high humidity of peat make it more preferable to use it near mining sites.

Iron ores have long been used in the Tula region, but their reserves are insignificant.

The non-metallic minerals of the Center are of great importance - limestones, refractory and brick clays, construction sands, glass sands, and gravel. The region has a huge need for these minerals and their deposits are used especially intensively near Moscow.

A significant economic role is played by phosphorite deposits located in the Bryansk and Moscow (Voskresensk-Egoryevskoye) regions, as well as table salt and limestone deposits in the Tula region.

In terms of reserves and production of gypsum for the production of binding materials, CER has no equal. Most of the reserves and all production are concentrated in the Tula region.

Climate. The Center region lies within the Atlantic-continental climate region of the temperate zone. It is characterized by not too cold winters and warm but not excessively hot summers. In all seasons, westerly winds prevail, bringing air of Atlantic origin.

The lowest temperatures are observed in January: on average from -8° in the west to -12° in the east of the region. In summer, the differences within the region are much smaller than in winter: from 18° in the northwest to 20° in the southeast. The annual range of air temperatures in the Center is relatively small (26-30°). The average duration of the frost-free period is 125-140 days for an open, flat place, and the sum of temperatures during this time is 1800-2300°, which makes it possible to successfully cultivate most grains, potatoes, vegetables, forage grasses, and flax in the Center. The average annual precipitation is 450-600 mm.

Water resources. Surface water sources in the region are represented by an extensive river network belonging to the basins of the Caspian, Black and Baltic seas. The provision of surface water resources in the region decreases from the north - northwest to the south - southeast. The largest rivers in the region are the Volga with its tributaries Oka, Mologa, Kostroma and others, the Dnieper with the Desna, the Western Dvina, and the Don. However, as a result of the situation in the area of ​​the main watersheds in the Center, there are no particularly large drainages - all significant rivers flow here with their upper reaches, gaining full strength outside the area. Navigable rivers are Volga, Oka, Moscow. Other rivers in the area are of little transport importance and mainly play the role of local water supply sources.

Lakes are numerous, but not large.

Soil resources. The most typical for most of the region (north of the Oka) are soddy-podzolic soils. The severe swampiness of the northern part of the region is associated with a fairly wide distribution of podzolic-boggy soils. Massifs of dark-colored, more fertile gray forest soils stand out as unique “islands” among podzolic soils.

Forest resources. Serious changes in the appearance of the vegetation of the Center have been made by centuries-old human activity; for several centuries this area was the most densely populated and economically developed part of the country. As a result, forests were cut down over vast areas and replaced by arable land and meadows. Since the composition of forests has changed greatly as a result of logging and other types of human impact, the Center is dominated by secondary forests, which have formed in place of primary coniferous, coniferous-deciduous and broad-leaved forests. A lot of forests died during the Great Patriotic War, so in the west of the Center there are now many young groves and copses.

The forested area of ​​the CER is 40% of its territory, or less than 2% of the state forest fund of Russia. The Kostroma region belongs to the zone of industrial forests, and all other regions belong to the zone of sparsely forested areas. Almost 2/5 of the forested area of ​​the region is mainly of water conservation, protective and recreational importance.

Recreational resources. The recreational resources of the Central Economic Region are of particular importance due to its metropolitan location and the concentration of a large, predominantly urban population here. The region has large recreational resources, primarily due to the picturesque landscapes of the Central Russian strip. Forests of direct recreational use alone account for about 1/5 of such forests in Russia.

In addition to natural ones, the numerous historical, cultural and architectural monuments that the area is so rich in are of great recreational value. The Center has created the country's first circular integrated tourist route “Golden Ring” (Moscow - Sergiev Posad - Pereslavl-Zalessky - Rostov - Yaroslavl - Kostroma - Ivanovo - Suzdal - Vladimir - Moscow).

Population and labor resources. In terms of population, number of cities and towns, diversity of types and appearance of settlements, the Center occupies a special place in our country. 30.5 million people live here, or 20.4% of the Russian population; In terms of population density (62.6 people/km 2), CER also ranks first among districts. Within the Center itself, the densely populated industrial regions of the Volga-Oka interfluve, saturated with numerous cities and towns, and the peripheral western and southern parts are clearly distinguished. In the north of the region the density is 15-20 people/km2, in the west and south - 50-70 people/km2. The Kostroma region is the least densely populated, and the maximum density is in the Moscow region.

The center is an area of ​​ancient Slavic settlement, the historical core of the Russian people. And now the region is distinguished by a very homogeneous national composition: the Russian population predominates here everywhere. There are small national groups in the east of the Ryazan region (Tatars) and the northeast of the Tver region (Karelians). Belarusians and Ukrainians live in the west.

A characteristic feature of the Center is the high proportion of the urban population. There are 248 cities and 400 urban settlements in the region, in which over 25 million people live. Thus, the share of the urban population in the region is 82.5%. At the same time, the Ivanovo, Tula and Yaroslavl regions reached the regional average, and the Moscow region exceeded it. There are more than 30 large cities in the region, the share of the population of which in the total number of residents of the Central Economic Region is almost half, and in the urban population - more than 2/3. In the Center there are both large clusters of urban settlements and single cities and towns. Among the clusters of cities, Moscow occupies an outstanding place, around which a whole galaxy of satellites has grown. The Moscow agglomeration is home to 1/2 of the district's urban population. Other largest urban agglomerations that are “millionaires” are Tula and Yaroslavl. An important reason for strengthening connections between the cities of the Central Economic Region is their versatility, the special role of industry, territorial proximity, and favorable transport conditions. Large cities have high growth rates, due to the concentration of industry and social infrastructure. The network of urban settlements in the Center developed over many centuries. Here, more than anywhere else, cities that are among the most ancient in our country have been preserved. They became the reference points of modern urban settlement. Among the administrative and industrial centers, ancient cities also predominate (Smolensk, Ryazan, Vladimir, Vyazma, Kolomna).

The CER is characterized by a relatively small share of rural residents in the total population - 17%. The main reason for the reduction in the number of rural residents in the region is the intensive outflow from rural areas. In the Moscow region, as well as in the Ivanovo, Vladimir, and Tula regions, a significant part of the residents of rural settlements are people not associated with agriculture. The population has long developed, first of all, more fertile lands, therefore, in areas where very favorable soils are spread, areas of continuous settlement have formed. Most of the Center is characterized by small and medium-sized settlements, which is explained by the predominance of the focal nature of agricultural development of the territory. In the southeast of the region, more sparsely located large villages predominate. This corresponds to higher land productivity, continuous development of the territory, etc. Large rural settlements can also be found along large rivers, near cities.

Migration had a certain impact on the dynamics of population growth in the region. The mechanical movement of the urban population is characterized by a large share of migrants from other economic regions. The central region south of Moscow is one of the main fields of migration gravity. In exchange with Moscow and the region, almost all regions of the region lose part of their urban population. Along with this, the mechanical increase in the urban population of these regions is formed mainly due to the influx of local rural residents. The attractive power of the Center is accompanied by a decrease in the role of “their” village in the growth of cities in the area. In the Center, at the expense of this source in 1979-1988. only a third of the flow into the city was replaced. Since the second half of the 60s. The influx of population into the Central Economic Region began to rapidly increase. In 1979-1988. this area received 32% of all migrants redistributed between the union republics of the former USSR and the rest of Russia. In the influx of labor resources into the cities of the Center, pendulum migration also plays a significant role. The Moscow region stands out especially, where every fourth rural resident is employed at work or study in urban settlements. In addition, about 36% of workers living in satellite cities come to Moscow to work.

The current demographic situation in the CER is characterized by low natural growth and an increasing proportion of the population of older ages. The number of labor resources is insufficient. The population of the Center, as the ancient economic core of the country, historically became the bearer of many diverse production skills. Thanks to the early development of industry, which relied on the established skills of the population, a large army of skilled workers was formed in the Center long before the revolution. The region, primarily thanks to Moscow located within its borders, has played and is playing an outstanding role in the development of culture and the training of qualified personnel. The higher than the national average level of employment of labor resources in the non-production sector is due to the role that the Center plays in the development of science, culture and the training of specialists. But the region itself suffers from a shortage mainly of less-skilled labor.

Sectoral structure of the CER economy. Location of leading industries

A complex industrial complex of predominantly manufacturing industries and industries has formed on the territory of the CER, with a fairly high level of interconnectedness.

Leading industries in the region: mechanical engineering and metalworking, chemical and petrochemical, light industry. The food industry, coal mining, electric power, metallurgy, woodworking, building materials, glass and earthenware industries have developed greatly in the region.

Mechanical engineering and metalworking. The CER machine-building complex has no equal in the country in terms of the number of employees and marketable products. Among the branches of mechanical engineering, the leading place belongs to those that are most dependent on the availability of qualified personnel and use the powerful scientific and technical potential of the region.

Distribution of production of mechanical engineering products of the Center for Economic Development (as a percentage of the total)

Metal dir. machines	Tractors	Excavators	Kuznechno- press	Cars,	in passenger cars	number: freight
29,1	17,3	53,2	9,6	15,5	10,4	26,2

The machine tool and tool industry of the Center produces 1/5 of metal-cutting machines and about 1/3 of metalworking tools in the CIS. Enterprises are concentrated in Moscow and the Moscow region (Kolomna, Yegoryevsk, Dmitrov), as well as in the Ryazan (Ryazan, Sasovo), Ivanovo (Ivanovo) and Kaluga (Sukhinichi) regions. Enterprises of the electrical industry are concentrated in the capital and in the region (Podolsk, Serpukhov), as well as in Yaroslavl, Rybinsk, Vladimir, Kolchugino. Instrument making is most developed in Moscow and the region, as well as in the Oryol, Yaroslavl and Smolensk regions.

The leading production association in the automotive industry of CER is the Moscow Automobile Plant named after. I. A. Likhacheva. The company specializes in the production of medium-tonnage trucks and low-volume high-class passenger cars. ZIL branches are located in Moscow, Ryazan, Smolensk, Yaroslavl, Yartsevo, Mtsensk and other cities. On the basis of ZIL vehicles, the production of dump trucks (Mytishchi) and buses (Likino-Dulevo) was created in the Moscow region. Moscow plant named after. Lenin Komsomol is the parent enterprise of the Moskvich Production Association, which has branches in the Ivanovo and Tver regions.

CER is the birthplace of domestic railway engineering. The production of diesel locomotives is concentrated in Kolomna, Bryansk, Kaluga, Lyudinovo, Murom; wagons - in Bryansk, Tver, Mytishchi.

The region's aviation industry is highly concentrated. Its enterprises are located in Moscow, Smolensk, Rybinsk (engine production).

In the Volga-Oka interfluve - Yaroslavl, Rybinsk, Kostroma, Moscow, Gorokhovets - shipbuilding is localized.

Of fundamental importance are the expansion and reconstruction of numerous tractor (Vladimir) and agricultural (Lyubertsy, Ryazan, Tula, Bezhetsk) mechanical engineering enterprises in the Center for Economic Development. CER has no equal in the production of equipment for the textile industry (Ivanovo, Shuya, Kolomna, Klimovsk, Orekhovo-Zuevo, Kostroma), clothing (Podolsk, Tula, Rzhev), chemical (Yaroslavl, Mytishchi, Kostroma), coal (Tula, Uzlovaya, Skopin, Yasnogorsk), energy (Podolsk, Semibratovo), building materials industry, woodworking, printing (Rybinsk), etc.

Chemical and petrochemical industry. In these industries, the region has significant fixed assets, a large scientific base and a capacious consumer. However, the development of the industry is hampered by a shortage of raw materials, water, energy, and the difficult environmental situation of a highly urbanized area.

Distribution of production of chemical industry products in the Central Energy Region (as a percentage of the total).

Mineral fertilizers,	in nitrogen	number: phosphorus	Caustic soda	Chemical fiber	Synthetic rubber	Plastics
16,2	20,0	27,3	6,8	28,6	17,0	14,1

CER occupies a leading position in the production of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers. The largest suppliers of complex fertilizers (including nitrogen) are Novomoskovsk and Shchekinskoye PA “Azot” (Tula region), Dorogobuzh plant (Smolensk region). Phosphorus fertilizers are produced by Minudobreniya PA in Voskresensk, which uses imported apatite concentrates. Phosphate rock is produced on the basis of local phosphorites in the Moscow and Bryansk regions. The production of synthetic resins and plastics is concentrated in the Moscow and Tula regions, plastic products - in Moscow, Moscow (Orekhovo-Zuevo, Zhilevo, Lyubuchany) and Smolensk (Safonovo) regions. The region occupies one of the leading places in the country in the production of chemical fibers (Klin, Serpukhov, Moscow region; Ryazan, Tver, Shchekino and Shuya). Synthetic rubber is produced in Yaroslavl and Efremov using imported oil and gas raw materials. The Yaroslavl and Moscow tire factories produce approximately 1/4 of the tire production; the production of rubber products is concentrated in these same centers, and in Moscow - rubber shoes. Synthetic dyes are produced in the Ivanovo region, varnishes and paints - in the Yaroslavl and Moscow regions; New productions of chemical reagents and photochemicals are also located here.

In terms of the development of the chemical and petrochemical industry, Moscow, Moscow, Tula and Yaroslavl regions stand out in the CER.

Light industry. The region's light industry is highly concentrated, primarily the textile industry. The region's light industry accounts for 1/3 of the industry's production, which is explained by the presence of a powerful production base, large research institutes, qualified personnel, and broad consumer demand. Enterprises in the district produce almost 80% of cotton fabrics in Russia, while enterprises in the Ivanovo, Moscow, and Vladimir regions account for 4/5 of the total production of cotton fabrics in the region. The largest textile center in the country is Ivanovo.

Silk industry enterprises, which produce 45% of silk fabrics, are located mainly in the capital and region, as well as in the Ivanovo, Vladimir and Ryazan regions. Linen industry enterprises, which also produce 80% of the total volume of linen fabrics in the Russian Federation, are located in places where the raw material grows - fiber flax (Vladimir, Kostroma, Ivanovo and Yaroslavl regions). The main center of the flax industry is Kostroma, but recently enterprises have appeared in the Smolensk region. The region produces 60% of the total output of woolen fabrics, but the capital region accounts for 2/3 of the district’s fabrics. Among other regions, Bryansk, Ivanovo and Tver stand out. The textile industry of the region is especially characterized by broad inter-district connections - 3/4 of all textile products are exported, including more than 4/5 of cotton.

Fuel and energy complex. The fuel and energy complex of the Central Energy District only partially satisfies the needs of the region. Coal production in the Moscow region is declining.

CER occupies a leading place in Russia in peat extraction. The largest peat enterprises operate here with a capacity of 1-2 million tons of peat per year. Most of the production comes from the Moscow, Yaroslavl and Tver regions. But in the fuel balance of the region, the share of local fuels has decreased to 10-15%. Most peat is used not for energy purposes, but for agricultural needs.

Currently, CER is one of the country's leading producers of electrical and thermal energy.

The fuel and energy complex is based on large state district power plants and thermal power plants with a capacity of more than 1 million kW each - Konakovskaya, Kostroma, Kashirskaya, Ryazan state district power plants, Moscow thermal power plants, etc. Following the first nuclear power plant in the country - Obninskaya - large nuclear power plants were built: Smolenskaya, Tverskaya. The CER's needs for petroleum products are largely met by the Ryazan, Yaroslavl and Moscow oil refineries.

based on the coal industry, ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry.

Mechanical engineering is represented throughout the subdistrict and is concentrated in Kaluga (turbine, electrical, etc. plants), Lyudinov (diesel locomotive engineering), Kirov (foundry-mechanical, iron foundries), Orel (textile machines, instruments, watches, food industry equipment) , Livnakh (hydraulic machines, fire-fighting equipment), Mtsensk (branch of ZIL), Tula (agricultural, transport machines, machine tools, precision engineering products), Ryazan, Skopine (precision engineering, machine tool building, road construction and power engineering), Bryansk region ( diesel locomotives, railway cars, trucks, machine tools, excavators, instruments, etc.).

Light industry is represented by clothing and shoe factories in Kaluga, Kondrovo, Kirov, Sukhinichi, Orel, Livny, cloth factories in Borovsk, Klintsy, knitting factories in Kaluga and Borovsk. Transport routes passing through the territory of the Ryazan region from Moscow to the southern and south-eastern regions of the European part of the country contribute to the development of light industry here. In Ryazan, Kasimov, Murmin, Spassk-Ryazansky there are enterprises of the woolen, clothing and leather-footwear industries.

Chemical industry enterprises in the Tula region produce nitrogen fertilizers, synthetic rubber, phenols, pesticides, synthetic resins, plastics and are located in Novomoskovsk, Efremov, Shchekin. Enterprises of the chemical and forestry complex of the Ryazan region specialize in the production of mineral fertilizers, sulfuric acid, chemical fibers and threads, harvesting industrial wood, and cardboard production. The Bryansk region produces mineral fertilizers, paper and cardboard using its own resources; There are sawmills, plywood and furniture factories.

The Tula region accounts for the bulk of coal production from the Moscow region brown coal basin. State district power plants - Shchekinskaya, Novomoskovskaya, Cherepetskaya - operate on this coal. The Ryazan region also produces brown coal and peat, which is used to produce electricity.

The metallurgical industry of the Tula region is the oldest industry, working on the ores of the Kursk magnetic anomaly and on local raw materials. Metallurgical plants: Novotulsky and Kosogorsky. Ferrous metallurgy in the Oryol region is represented mainly by steel rolling production in Oryol.

In all areas of the subdistrict, the building materials industry is represented, which produces glass, building faience, brick, reinforced concrete products, cement, and slate.

PRIORITY DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT OF PRODUCTIVE FORCES OF CER

The development of the productive forces of the Central Energy District for the future is determined by its economic and natural features:

• general high level of development and diversification of the economy, especially industry;
• the leading position of the region in the development of scientific and technological progress;
• provision of qualified labor resources;
• central position among other developed areas and high level of development of transport and economic relations;
• The influence of Moscow, the largest industrial and transport hub, scientific and cultural center of the country, on the development of the Central Energy District is very great.

In the future, the region will remain focused on the development of predominantly manufacturing industries with reduced material and energy intensity, but requiring highly skilled labor.

The deterioration of environmental environmental conditions requires a change in the approach to the development of industrial potential, the placement of industrial new buildings in small towns and urban settlements on the territory of less industrially developed regions - Bryansk, Tver, Kaluga, Kostroma, Oryol, Ryazan, Smolensk. There is a need to limit the growth of industry and population of large cities, the Moscow and Tula-Novomoskovsk urban agglomerations, as well as to eliminate imbalances in the structure of labor use in the Ivanovo region and a number of urban settlements in other regions.

In the future, mechanical engineering and metalworking in the Central Economic Region will determine the scientific and technological progress of the region's industry. The priority areas for the development of mechanical engineering in the region will continue to be the precision and complex engineering industries, focusing on the use of the most qualified labor. The main attention will be paid to the reconstruction and technical re-equipment of existing machine-building enterprises. In the established and emerging machine-building territorial groupings and nodes, intra- and inter-industry cooperation will be further developed. In connection with the creation of highly specialized enterprises, it is advisable to deconcentrate large factories, especially in Moscow and other regional centers, by organizing their branches and related companies in the peripheral territories of the Central Economic Region, including in small and medium-sized cities.

The future location of CER automobile industry plants is influenced by a number of factors that are also characteristic of other branches of mechanical engineering. This is, firstly, the disaggregation of former universal factories and the separation of specialized “subsidiary” enterprises from among them. Secondly, the creation of production associations headed by the main enterprise.

The future development of certain branches of the chemical industry in the region, especially the chemistry of organic synthesis, will be limited due to insufficient raw materials, fuel and water resources, as well as taking into account environmental protection.

The prospects for fuel supply to the region are associated with a focus on the supply of various types of highly efficient fuel from outside. Oil, natural gas and steam coal will be supplied mainly from the eastern regions of the country, and the missing fuel oil will be supplied from the Volga oil refineries.

In the future, the increasing electricity consumption of the region will also be satisfied through the transfer of energy by electronic transport not only from neighboring power systems, but also from the eastern regions.

Central economic region has a favorable economic and geographical location. It is located at the intersection of water and land routes, which have always contributed to the development of economic ties. The central region borders Belarus and Ukraine, the North-Western, Northern, Volga-Vyatka, Volga and Central Black Earth economic regions, with which economic relations are developing and interregional associations are being formed.

Natural resource potential

The territorial resources of the Central Economic Region are relatively small and are inferior to the size of the eastern regions, and in the European regions to the North and the Volga region.

The relief is mostly flat, the climate is temperate continental. The climate allows for the cultivation of grain and industrial crops, potatoes, vegetables, the development of horticulture and various livestock sectors.

Fuel reserves are represented by the Moscow Region brown coal basin, which is located on the territory of five regions: Tver, Smolensk, Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan. Low-quality brown coal located near Moscow turns out to be 2.8-3 times more expensive than coal from other basins at its mining site. OJSC Mosbassugol is in a state of crisis: the enterprise's income does not cover the costs of maintaining the mines in working condition, wage arrears are accumulating, and the natural and environmental conditions of mining lead to an increase in the cost of mined coal.

Reforming the region’s coal industry makes it possible to receive funding from the state budget, which, in turn, revives the local “lignite” (based on the consumption of brown coal) electric and thermal power industry and makes it possible to solve social problems, since 70% of all mines and open-pit mines are city-forming enterprises.

There are peat deposits in the area in Tverskaya. Kostroma, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Moscow regions. The deposits are in the last stage of development.

Oil and gas areas have been explored in the Yaroslavl region, but are not yet being developed.

A few deposits of iron ore are known from mineral raw materials (Tula and Oryol regions). The Kosogorsk metallurgical plant was founded on the use of Tula ores (from the 16th-17th centuries).

Agronomic ores are represented by phosphorites in the Bryansk (Polpinskoye deposit) and Moscow (Egoryevskoye deposit) regions. Cement raw materials, limestones, and marls are available in the Bryansk, Moscow, Ryazan, and Oryol regions.

Diamond deposits and deposits of rare earth metals have been discovered in the area (Tula and Oryol regions).

Natural resources are mainly of intra-regional importance.

Population and labor resources

Occupying a small part of the territory of Russia. The central region stands out for its particularly large population. The increase in numbers occurs due to intensive migration processes. Currently, the population density of the Central region is 62 people. per 1 km 2, the most densely populated are Moskovskaya. Tula, Ivanovo, Ryazan regions.

The region is characterized by a high proportion of urban population - 83%. There are 248 cities and 400 urban-type settlements in the region, and the largest urban agglomeration in the country, Moscow, is located. The capital region is characterized by the most developed social infrastructure.

The main demographic problem of the Central region is the problem of employment, which is currently being solved quite successfully, especially in the metropolitan areas.

Location and development of the main sectors of the economy

The leading branch of market specialization is highly developed diversified mechanical engineering, which specializes in the production of cars, machine tools, tools, instruments, electrical equipment for the light and food industries.

The main place in mechanical engineering belongs to transport engineering, which is represented by the production of cars, diesel locomotives, carriages and river vessels.

The center of the automotive industry is Moscow, where the Moscow Joint Stock Company “Plant im. I.A. Likhachev" (AMO ZIL), transformed in 1992 from the production association named after. I.A. Likhachev (ZIL), specializing mainly in the production of medium-duty trucks; OJSC AZLK, which produces Moskvich passenger cars; OJSC Avtoframos, created as a joint venture between Renault and the Moscow government; OJSC SeAZ (Serpukhov Automobile Plant), which produces Oka cars.

In Likino-Dulevo (Moscow region) there is a bus plant, Likinsky Bus LLC. One of the country's largest transport engineering plants is the diesel locomotive building plant in Kolomna, Moscow region. OJSC Kolomensky Zavod is the only Russian manufacturer and leader in the production of modern mainline passenger diesel locomotives, a developer and manufacturer of a new generation of passenger electric locomotives and freight diesel locomotives for the railways of Russia, the CIS and the Baltic countries. The company is part of the Transmashholding company and is an active participant in the implementation of the Comprehensive program for the modernization and renewal of traction and rolling stock, implemented by Russian Railways OJSC as part of the transport strategy of Russia.

River shipbuilding and ship repair centers are Moscow, Rybinsk (Yaroslavl region) and Kostroma.

The main centers of machine tool production are Moscow (Krasny Proletary, Stankokonstruktsiya, Stankolit, Stankonormal plants), Ryazan, Kolomna. Instrument making is developed in Moscow (factories "Energopribor", "Fizpribor", "Manometer", watch factories, etc.), Vladimir, Ryazan, Smolensk.

Electrical engineering is represented by the Moscow plants "Dynamo", "Moskabel" and plants in Kaluga, Yaroslavl, Alexandrov (Vladimir region).

The Central region is a consumer of Ural rolled ferrous metals and rolled products from the Central Chernozem region and Siberia, as well as from Cherepovets.

The industry of specialization is the chemical industry. Phosphate fertilizers are produced by Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers OJSC (Moscow Region) and Bryansk Phosphates State Unitary Enterprise. Novomoskovsk joint-stock company "Azot" (Tula region) produces nitrogen fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture. Nitrogen fertilizers are also produced by the joint chemical company Shchekinoazot (Tula region) and Dorogobuzh OJSC (Smolensk region).

It should be noted that the chemical industry is characterized by integration processes, for example, OJSC Voskresensk Mineral Fertilizers is part of OJSC United Chemical Company URALCHEM, Novomoskovsk Joint Stock Company Azot is part of OJSC Mineral and Chemical Company EuroChem, etc. .d.

The region has developed organic synthesis chemistry, whose enterprises produce synthetic rubber, artificial fibers, and plastics. Synthetic rubber factories are located in Yaroslavl and Efremov (Tula region).

The oldest industry in the region is the textile industry. The central region produces more than 85% of all fabrics produced in the country. The cotton industry is represented by the Trekhgornaya Manufactory plant in Moscow, the Glukhovsky Cotton Plant in Noginsk (Moscow Region), and plants in Ivanovo, Orekhov-Zuevo, and Tver. Yaroslavl, etc. Linen fabrics are produced in Kostroma, Smolensk, Vyazniki (Vladimir region). The footwear industry produces 12% of the country's leather footwear.

The central region specializes in the printing industry.

The area has a developed food industry, represented by enterprises producing confectionery, pasta, bakery, meat, dairy, alcohol and tobacco products. The largest food industry enterprises are located in Moscow.

The electricity management of the Central region is at the stage of reform. The energy system of the region is dominated by thermal power plants, the largest of which are Kostroma, Konakovskaya, Cherepetskaya, Shchekinskaya state district power plants. Nuclear power plants are located on the territory of the region: Kalininskaya and Smolenskaya. The Verkhnevolzhsky hydroelectric power station cascade includes two hydroelectric power stations: Rybinsk and Uglich. The Zagorskaya PSPP operates in the area and the Zagorskaya PSPP-2 is under construction.

The construction materials industry is developed in the region (Moscow, Tver, Bryansk, Vladimir regions).

Agriculture in the Central region is largely of suburban importance. Cereals, sugar beets, hemp, potatoes, vegetables, etc. are grown. Dairy and meat cattle breeding, pig farming, and poultry farming are developed in the region.

Transport and economic relations

The central region has a transport network represented by all types of transport. The leading place belongs to railway transport. The road network has a radial structure. Moscow is the largest hub of 11 railway lines, all of them electrified. The area has a pipeline system. Moscow is connected through a system of canals and the Volga to the Baltic, White, Caspian, Azov and Black Seas.

Energy resources, timber and timber, building materials, bread, rolled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, sugar, and cotton are imported into the region.

Exports are dominated by industrial products - machinery and equipment, automobiles, machine tools, instruments, instruments, electrical products, household appliances, fabric, shoes, etc.

Intradistrict differences

Moscow is the country's center of government and the main information center. Moscow has a special capital status, and it is directly subordinate to the Russian Government.

In the region, technology-innovation special economic zones have been formed in the cities of Zelenograd and Dubna.

The Moscow region specializes in mechanical engineering and chemical engineering. light (textile), food industry.

The Yaroslavl region specializes in mechanical engineering, petrochemistry, and textile industries.

The Ivanovo region is distinguished by its textile industry, especially cotton. Mechanical engineering and chemistry serving the textile industry are developed.

The main industries of the Vladimir region are mechanical engineering, chemical, textile and glass industries.

In industry, the Tula region specializes in mechanical engineering, metalworking, metallurgy, chemistry, and mining of coal near Moscow.

The Smolensk region specializes in mechanical engineering, light and food industries. Mechanical engineering produces radio engineering, electrical engineering, and instruments.

In the Tver region, the leading place in industry is occupied by mechanical engineering and textile industries, and in agriculture - flax growing and dairy farming.

Main problems and development prospects

In the Central region, market reforms are being implemented more intensively than in many other economic regions.

Main prospects for the development of the Central Economic Region:

• improving the management of socio-economic processes;
• restoration and development of economic ties with other regions of Russia, with countries near and far abroad;
• agrarian reforms;
• reconstruction and re-equipment of enterprises;
• development of industrial and social infrastructure.

Capital investments directed into the region's economy are highly effective. In this regard, the share of investment in the region’s economy is projected at 21-22% of the total volume in the Russian Federation.

The composition of the Central Economic Region is as follows: Oryol, Tver, Bryansk, Smolensk, Kaluga, Tula, Ryazan, Moscow, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Ivanovo regions, as well as Moscow. Its total length is 485.1 thousand square meters. km.

Geographical location

The central economic region has a relatively advantageous geographical and economic position. It is located at the intersection of land roads and waterways, which for many years contributed to the rapprochement of Russian lands, the development of various types of economic ties and trade. The Central Economic Region borders on Ukraine and Belarus, and from the Russian regions - on the Northern, Northwestern, Volga, Volga-Vyatka, and Central Black Earth regions. Economic relations with them are actively developing. The city of Moscow, the capital of Russia, is located on the territory of the Center for Economic Development. It is this region that plays a leading role among all other economic regions of our country.

Climatic conditions

Soils of the area

The natural and climatic conditions in this area vary geographically. The best conditions are found in the southern regions. In Oryol and Tula there are significant areas of forest-steppe with a predominance of leached and podzolized chernozems.

Dark gray soils, gray and gray forest soils are widespread in the central part of this region. If we talk about the north (Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo and Tver regions), then the soils here are mostly sod-podzolic, which require significant reclamation work (anti-erosion measures, liming of acidic soils or, for example, drainage of wetlands), as well as the application of fertilizers in order to increase fertility. Famous rivers originate within the CER - Dnieper, Western Dvina, Volga, etc.

Population

The central economic region occupies a special place in our country in terms of population, diversity of appearance and types of settlements, and the number of towns and cities. About 30.3 million people live here, that is, almost 21% of the country's population. The population density is 62.6 people/km 2 . The central economic region is rich in densely populated cities as well as towns. The population density in the north is 15-20 people/km2, and in the south and west - 50-70 people/km2. The Kostroma region is the least densely populated, and the Moscow region is the most densely populated. 82.5% is the proportion of people living in cities, if we consider the Central Economic Region. The population of villages is about 17%. This is a relatively small proportion of the total number. The main reason for the reduction in the number of rural residents is their outflow to cities. In the Tula, Vladimir, Ivanovo regions, as well as in the Moscow region, the population not connected in any way with agriculture makes up a significant proportion of the inhabitants.

Largest agglomerations

Central Russia includes many large clusters of settlements and single towns and cities. About half of the region's population lives in the Moscow agglomeration today. Other largest agglomerations include Yaroslavl and Tula. Diversity, favorable transport conditions, territorial proximity, as well as the special role of urban industry are important reasons for establishing close ties between them. Large cities are characterized by significant growth rates. This is due to the fact that industry is concentrated here and there is a developed social infrastructure. Ancient cities also predominate among industrial and administrative centers. These are, for example, Kolomna, Vyazma, Vladimir, Ryazan, Smolensk.

Forest resources

Among the biological resources, it should be noted forest reserves, a significant part of which are coniferous species. The northern part of the region is characterized by the largest forest cover, especially the Tver and Kostroma regions. The forests to the south are depleted. They are mainly of recreational, water conservation and environmental significance. Wood supplies do not meet the needs of local residents. A significant part of lumber and forest raw materials is imported from the Volga-Vyatka, Northern and other regions. Local substandard forest waste and raw materials are poorly used.

Fuel and energy resources

The central region of Russia is not rich in fuel and energy resources. The brown coal basin near Moscow represents fuel reserves. It is located on the territory of Smolensk, Tver, Ryazan, Tula and Kaluga regions. Coal reserves amount to 4.4 billion tons, with a depth of up to 60 m. Mining is predominantly carried out in mines. Coals located near Moscow are of low energy quality. They have a low calorie content, are high in ash, contain sulfur, and are also waterlogged, which means low transportability. Nevertheless, they are important for the electric power industry of the area.

But the central region of Russia is rich in peat resources. About 35 billion cubic meters are raw peat reserves. There are industrial peatlands in the Tver, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Moscow and Yaroslavl regions. Deep chemical processing of this raw material in areas of its concentration could have a great effect.

Hydropower

Hydroelectric power reserves are small. They are mainly concentrated in the Ryazan, Kostroma and Tver regions, where there is a developed hydrographic network. Reservoir systems are located on the Oka, Volga and other rivers. But due to backward technology and high water consumption, central Russia is experiencing certain difficulties with water supply. Significant oil and gas areas have recently been explored in the Yaroslavl region, but production is still far away. Other difficulties include the import of food and the crisis in engineering production. These are serious problems in the Central Economic Region that need to be resolved as quickly as possible.

Other raw materials

The economy of this region is focused mainly on imported oil, fuel oil and gas from the Volga region, Western Siberia and the North. In the CER, several iron ore deposits are known from mineral raw materials (Oryol, Tula regions). Only Tula ores are of industrial importance. The Central Economic Region, the characteristics of which we are interested in, has insignificant reserves of phosphorites in the Moscow and Bryansk regions. It is provided with various building materials. Marls, limestones, cement raw materials are the resources of the Central Economic Region, which are available in the Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol and Ryazan regions. Kaluga and Tula regions are rich in gypsum. In a number of places there are ceramic and glass clays and sands.

Central economic region: industries

A complex industrial complex of mainly manufacturing industries and industries has formed in this area. Moscow is the main industrial center. The capital's products have a large share in the products of the Central Energy District, as well as the entire country. Other large cities of the Central Economic Region, which are industrial centers, are Vladimir, Tver, Bryansk, Tula, Yaroslavl, Smolensk, etc.

Main industries

It should be noted that metalworking and mechanical engineering (29% of the total industrial output of the region) rank first in our country in terms of the number of employees and marketable products. Products are produced in a wide range, often of high quality. They are in demand in the markets of this region, as well as other regions of Russia, and are exported.

The Central Economic Region, the characteristics of which are presented in this article, focuses primarily on the production of precise and complex products that do not require large amounts of electricity, fuel and raw materials. Therefore, the most important industries remain electronic, radio engineering, instrument making, electrical engineering, as well as the production of control and automation equipment, etc.

The main subjects of the Central Economic Region engaged in these types of industry: Moscow region, Moscow, Tula, Yaroslavl, Orel, Vladimir, Kaluga, Smolensk and Ryazan. The tool and machine tool industries have received great development in Moscow (production of tools, complex automatic lines and machine tools), the Moscow region (Dmitrov, Yegoryevsk, Kolomna), in Ryazan (forging and pressing heavy equipment), Ivanovo, Sasovo and in the city of Sukhinichi.

Particularly prominent in the region's industry is the production of transport vehicles: river boats, wagons, diesel locomotives, cars, etc. The chemical industry accounts for 7% of the total industrial output of the region. This industry is focused on the large production potential of the Central Economic District, qualified personnel and scientific base, on consumers within the region itself, and also partially on local raw materials (brown coal, phosphorites, rock salt). The region we are interested in is a leader among others in the development of various types of chemical industry. It is here that about 10% of Russia's mineral fertilizers are produced: in Voskresensk (superphosphate, phosphorus flour), in the Tula and Bryansk regions (nitrogen fertilizers).

As for the chemistry of organic synthesis, we can note Yaroslavl, Efremov (plastics, rubber), Moscow (tires), Vladimir (perfumes, varnishes). The shortage of energy, water, raw materials, as well as the difficult environmental situation, hinders the development of the chemical industry in the area.

Another important specialization of the Central Economic Region is the large petrochemical and oil refining industry (Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Moscow). It is the leader in the production of chemical fibers in Russia (Tver, Ryazan, Serpukhov).

However, not only these industries characterize the Central Economic Region. Its industry, both heavy and light, is well developed. Let's talk about the last one.

Light industry

Light industry accounts for 9% of the region's total production. This is 87% of the fabrics produced in our country. Its largest and oldest industry is textiles. 43% of silk, 58% of wool, 78% of linen, 83% of cotton fabrics in Russia are produced here.

The cotton, silk, linen, shoe and wool industries are developed in the region - Moscow, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Tver, Noginsk, Moscow region, etc. The printing industry is developed in Moscow and the city of Chekhov, Moscow region, as well as in Vladimir, Yaroslavl and Tver.

Electric power industry

Electric power accounts for 13% of the total production in this area. The highly developed electric power industry plays a key role in the region's economy. The fuel industry is also of some importance. CER is one of the largest producers of heat and electricity in Russia. Powerful thermal power plants are located in the capital region. They use fuel oil and natural gas, and sometimes coal, as fuel. Shaturskaya and Kashirskaya state district power plants operate on natural gas. In the Tula region, Shchekinskaya, Cherepetskaya, and Novomoskovskaya state district power plants operate using coal mined in the Moscow basin. The role of hydroelectric power stations in the region is small.

Agro-industrial complex

The agro-industrial complex here is mainly natural in nature. Its share is 2.3% of the GRP of the region. It is developing quite intensively. The following areas of agricultural specialization can be distinguished: flax growing (Smolensk, Tver, Kostroma, Yaroslavl, Kaluga, Ivanovo regions), grain growing (Bryansk, Ryazan, Tula, Oryol regions), potatoes and vegetables, sugar beets, milk, livestock (Bryansk, Moscow , Ryazan, Tula regions).