Spatial development of the Far-Eastern macro-region: the role of cities

The article deals with the issues of the Far-Eastern macro-region spatial development in the context of the Strategy for Spatial Development of the Russian Federation, within which a special role is assigned to the cities. To determine their impact on the nearby territories and the macro-region development level, a comparative assessment of the socio-economic development of municipalities of subjects of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District was carried out. Despite the fact that cities make a significant contribution to the regional economy, they have a limited impact on neighboring territories. To identify the reasons for the weak spread of agglomeration effects, an analysis of the city’s spatial location, their contribution to the regional economy was made, and the corresponding conclusions were drawn. Assessment of possible results of the ongoing state policy aimed at the growth centers is given. Possible directions for making managerial decisions and their consequences for the spatial development of the Far-Eastern macro-region are given.