Autocatalytic Intensive Development of a Region and Its Institutional Foundation

Intensive development constitutes the key opportunity for securing sustainable long-term growth in the majority of Russian regions under current conditions. It is proposed to distinguish between two types of such development. The linear intensive-acceptor model of development enhances internal resource potential through the absorption of external knowledge and capital. Conversely, the autocatalytic systemically intensive model is based primarily on endogenous creation of knowledge, where the region’s socioeconomic institutions define the very framework of the research activities. This type of development is self-sustaining in the long term, but it is less stable and more challenging to manage. It appears that such development leads to lognormal distribution of indicators that characterize the advancement of set diverse technologies in the region. This mast be taken into account it the management process. The possibility of the shift between the types of intensive development in the region poses the problem of maintaining a dynamic equilibrium within its institutional system. This equilibrium hinges on reconciling the functions of growth-oriented institutions with those of stability-oriented institutions.