REGIONAL ECONOMIC DISPARITIES AND MECHANISMS FOR THEIR REDUCTION: EVIDENCE FROM UZBEKISTAN AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Abstract
Regional economic disparities represent one of the most persistent structural challenges confronting both emerging and developed economies. This article provides a systematic scientific analysis of the nature, causes and consequences of inter-regional income and development inequalities, with a primary focus on Uzbekistan and supplementary evidence drawn from international experience. Utilising a mixed-methods framework encompassing quantitative panel-data analysis of 14 Uzbekistani regions (2015–2023), comparative institutional analysis and structured expert interviews, the study identifies three dominant drivers of regional disparity: spatial concentration of productive capital, asymmetric infrastructure endowments, and institutional capacity gaps. Empirical results reveal that the GDP per capita ratio between the most and least developed regions of Uzbekistan stands at 6.1:1, significantly exceeding the OECD average of 3.1:1. The article critically evaluates eight categories of policy mechanisms — ranging from fiscal equalisation transfers and special economic zones to cluster-based industrial policy and digital infrastructure investment — and proposes an integrated place-based policy framework calibrated to Uzbekistan's institutional context. The findings contribute to theoretical debates on spatial economics and provide actionable guidance for policymakers pursuing balanced territorial development.
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