The book is devoted to the analysis of factors that determine the differences in the degree and pace of economic development of the regions of Russia .. In particular, an empirical test of various concepts of convergence was carried out on the basis of data on the dynamics of the main socio-economic indicators of the subjects of the Russian Federation. Attempted decomposition (decomposition into components) of economic growth in the regions of the Russian Federation Assessment of labor productivity dynamics in Russian regions . One of the sections of the work is devoted to the description of the Canadian experience of the development of individual regions and the policy of equalization. The paper made conclusions and recommendations for the development of federal economic policy in relation to various regions of Russia.