Are the border regions of Russia lagging behind the internal ones in economic development?

Subject. This article considers the border region’s particular characteristics as an economic category. Objectives. The article aims to assess the differences between border and internal regions of the Russian Federation in terms of economic development levels. Methods. For the study, I used a comparative analysis. Results. The article finds that there is no significant gap between internal and border regions of the Russian Federation in terms of economic development levels. A number of measures taken by the Government and the President of the Russian Federation contributed to the reduction of poverty rate in the border regions at the beginning of the 21st century. Conclusions. The example of the Russian Federation proves that the economy of a border region can exhibit a higher level of resilience during periods of external shocks. The common definition of a border region, which includes characteristics such as economic backwardness and periphery, requires methodological refinement.