Theoretical Synthesis and Practical Gaps in Regional and Spatial Development Studies

Based on a review of Russian and international research in regional and spatial economics, this article identifies systemic gaps between theoretical knowledge and its practical applicability in territorial governance. Key theoretical approaches are summarized, including neoclassical location theories, new economic geography, institutional economics, sustainable development concepts, as well as empirical regularities (rising divergence, spatial contraction, technological shifts). Five types of practical gaps are systematized: operational (uncertainty in measuring key constructs), transdisciplinary (isolation of disciplinary categories), data gap (limitations of spatial data and modeling methods), institutional‑behavioral (neglect of real motives and informal practices), and normative‑predictive (lack of feedback in forecasting). It is argued that bridging these gaps requires not the development of new fundamental theories, but a reorientation of the research agenda toward creating verifiable, locally adaptable, and policy‑relevant tools — such as modular spatial modeling platforms, standardized indicator systems, behavioral extensions, and adaptive governance mechanisms. For the Russian school of regional economics, a synthesis of agglomeration, institutional, and technological analysis is proposed as a condition for the transition from description to the management of spatial development.