Regional Capitals of Russia and Their Suburbs: Specifics of the Migration Balance

Abstract

Regional capitals and their suburbs are a few stable points of population increase in Russia. The article singles out the near-capital areas for 72 regional centers of Russia (except for Moscow and Leningrad oblasts, as well as a number of other federal subjects) on the basis of proximity to regional centers. Indicators of migration population increase (decrease) for 2012–2016 were used for their characteristics, calculated from Municipal Units Database indicators both in whole and in part, with division of (a) intra-, interregional, and international migration and (b) the breakdown of migration rates by five-year age groups. The analysis shows that the migration balance in large cities and their suburbs does not have clearly expressed regional specifics: regional centers and their suburbs that actively attract migrants prevail in all parts of the country, which proves the widespread occurrence of a centripetal migration trend. On average, suburbs differ from regional capitals not only by a more intensive migration increase, but also by its structural features. Centers attract young people, first of all, those entering higher educational institutes. The suburbs, in contrast, attract families with dependent children, the middle-aged, and elderly.