Ganshina E.Yu., Krupnov Yu.A. Analysis of Approaches to Regional Connectivity Concept: Theoretical Frameworks and Applied Metrics

Yuri A.  Krupnov
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation

Abstract. The  article  is  devoted to  a comprehensive analysis  of the  concept of  “connectivity”  as  a  systemic characteristic of spatial and socio-economic processes. Under the conditions of growing uncertainty caused by geopolitical tensions, sanctions pressure, and technological transformations, connectivity acquires particular importance. The paper examines the theoretical foundations of the category, including its evolution from classical notions of accessibility and integration to modern interdisciplinary interpretations based on graph theory, transport geography, and the concept of complex systems. In Russia, consistent methodological approaches to the analysis and assessment of connectivity are absent. However, as the experience of the global community demonstrates, the development of such instruments is an essential prerequisite for ensuring sustainable development and the country’s strategic positioning in the global economy. In Russian practice, the focus remains primarily on indicators of transport accessibility, while individual studies (for example, the papers of S.A. Tarkhov) represent only an initial step toward the institutionalization of the concept of “connectivity.” Connectivity was originally studied mainly in the transport dimension, but in recent decades its scope has significantly expanded: it now encompasses trade, digital, institutional, and social interactions. The practical measurement of connectivity is reflected in the indices of international organizations (UNCTAD LSCI, ICAO and IATA Air Connectivity Indicators, World Bank LPI, and WTO TiVA) and national practices (Place Connectivity Index in the USA, TEN-T Indicators in the EU, BRI Metrics in China, and RCS in India). The article concludes that Russia must develop a methodology for measuring  regional  connectivity, comparable  in importance  to  the  categories  of  resilience and  security.  Authors’ contribution. E.Yu. Ganshina – theoretical analysis of regional connectivity, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results  and  formulation of conclusions,  manuscript preparation,  preparation of  analytical tables; Yu.A.  Krupnov – development of methodological approaches and the structure of the article, formulation of the research concept and objectives, critical analysis and synthesis of key scholarly sources, validation of scientific findings, and recommendations for future research directions.
Key words: connectivity, transport accessibility, regional development, spatial economy, global economy, transport networks, network analysis, integration, competitiveness.
Citation. Ganshina E.Yu., Krupnov Yu.A., 2026. Analysis of Approaches to Regional Connectivity Concept: Theoretical Frameworks and Applied Metrics. Regionalnaya ekonomika. Yug Rossii [Regional Economy. South of Russia], vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 4-18. (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/re.volsu.2026.1.1

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