Interdependence of Agricultural Development of the Regions in the Trans-boundary Territory of the Great Altai

Introduction. The Great Altai, an important trans-boundary region at the confluence of the Altai Mountains, includes regions in Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. Agriculture plays an important role in its development, providing the welfare and employment of the rural population and significantly contributing to the gross regional product. The purpose of the study is to quantify the interdependence of agricultural development for the Great Altai regions and conduct its comparative analysis for different spatial regional groupings in the context of their sustainable development. Materials and methods. The study used statistical data on agricultural and economic development by region, and cross-border trade data for major agricultural products. Based on the modified methodology of cross-correlation analysis, we estimated and compared the generalized index of interdependent development for the Great Altai regions and their spatial groupings, and the index of their integration into national economy. Results. The regions are generally more integrated into the national economy. The agricultural development of neighboring regions is of importance. In some cases, the domestic regions also showed a higher index of interdependence then the integration into the national economy. Discussion. For the considered trans-boundary region, where mountains are a natural barrier with difficult transport accessibility, restricting the interaction of businesses, the interdependence of agricultural development is moderate. The scale and specialization of regional agricultural production play an important role. Conclusion. The results contribute to the theory and methodology of trans-boundary economics, and to the empirical studies in the economic integration of mountainous trans-boundary territories. The revealed interrelations of regional development can be used to improve agricultural policy for sustainable development of the Great Altai. Resume. The trans-boundary Great Altai regions as a part of the national economy have a high interdependence in agriculture. Neighboring and domestic regions also show a high index of interdependent development.