Promising directions for enhancing the competitiveness of Russian regions in foreign economic activity: theoretical and empirical analysis

The study aims to identify promising directions for enhancing the competitiveness of Russian regions in foreign economic activity based on trends in its fundamental parameters: total exports, imports, and foreign trade balance. The research employs multiple methodological approaches: a monographic method for analyzing theoretical positions of domestic and foreign scholars regarding the relationships between the volume and structure of regional foreign economic activity on one hand, and their competitiveness on the other. Yaroslavl Oblast was selected as the primary research subject, as it actively positions foreign economic activity as one of the promising directions for regional socio-economic development. Five administrative-territorial entities with varying geographical locations, levels, and characteristics of socio-economic development were chosen as «background» regions demonstrating different approaches to enhancing competitiveness in foreign economic activity: Moscow, Voronezh, Magadan, Samara, and Tambov Oblasts. Correlation and regression analysis was applied for empirical research. The analysis covers the period from 2000 to 2021, ensuring statistical reliability of the results. Theoretical analysis established that in modern conditions, competitiveness in foreign economic activity at macro and meso levels is manifested in the volume and structure of not only exports but also imports. Consequently, it was concluded that at the regional level, there is a combination of two types of competitiveness implemented in different phases of reproduction: in production (first type of competitiveness) and consumption, including industrial consumption (second type of competitiveness). Analysis of Yaroslavl Oblast’s foreign economic activity demonstrated instability in the dynamics of its basic parameters, complicating the selection of directions for enhancing its competitiveness in foreign economic activity. In the «background» regions, relationships between the basic parameters of foreign economic activity were identified, demonstrating various combinations of first and second type competitiveness, allowing for the establishment of promising directions for enhancement.