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North-West

Population: 8,034,000.  Biggest city: St Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) (4,744,200).
Flying time from Moscow to St.Petersburg (the biggest city): under 1 hour.
Time difference from Moscow: none.
Urban population: 87%. Rural population: 13%.
Territory: 196,500 sq. km (somewhat smaller than Romania)  Density: 41 persons/sq. km.
Climate zones: Mixed and coniferous forests.

Socio-economic indicators (1999 Duma Vote)

With its Baltic port and proximity to Finland, this region and its chief city St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) has always been a Russian window on the west. Its history is very different from that of Moscow and other parts of the Russian Federation. This is reflected in the positive outlook of many residents. The evaluation of the current economy is unusually high by Russian standards, and so to is the expectation of life improving. The region is also a magnet for student seeking higher education.

While nominal income is well below the national average, to a significant extent this is compensated by the fact that the likelihood being paid is well above the national average. Moreover, those finding life bearable are also well above the national average.
 

North-west Regional value     Russian mean    % Russian mean

ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
Current national economy not bad: % 33 19 174
Wages paid in full in previous month, % 63 49 128
GDP/capita rbls, million 8 10 89
Wage levels 1000 rbls/month, 1995 417 472 88
Current household economy not bad: % 38 45 84
Consumer goods: % with VCR 28 34 82
Industrial productivity mln rbls/employee    47 66 72
GDP 1995 bln rbls 68,545 127,531 54

LABOUR MARKET CHANGE
Employment sector: services, % 50 49 102
Employed, % labour force
90
91
99
Employer: new private, % 22 23 96
Prepared to move to find a job: % 16 17 94
Job is secure, % 37 50 74
Have second job previous month: % 11 19 58

SOCIAL COHESION AND STABILITY
Population change, % -.9 -.6 --
Students in higher education per 10,000    279 179 156
Expect life to improve next year: % 27 21 129
Life is bearable, % 63 52 121
Life expectancy in years (male) 58 58 100
Life expectancy in years (female) 71 72 99
Hospital beds per 10,000 108 126 86
Read newspapers regularly: % 52 67 78

Administrative divisions:

City of St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad)(Pop. 4,774,200) Pskov Oblast (Pop. 827,000)
Capital: Pskov (207,000) 
Leningrad Oblast(Pop. 1,677,200)
Capital: St. Petersburg
Novgorod Oblast (Pop. 738,500)
Capital: Novgorod (241,000)

CSPP School of Government & Public Policy U. of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ Scotland
Email: cspp@strath.ac.uk