PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS APPROACH TO ESTIMATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF RUSSIAN REGIONS

The research reflects complex approach to assessment of Russian regional environmental sustainability. For each of 85 Russian region the index of environmental responsibility is calculated on the basis of generalized modified principal component analysis. The approach allows to avoid any expert assessments in construction of the rating. All data for calculation for the indicators are from official statistics. The rating takes into consideration 18 environmental indicators. The indicators are grouped into 3 subsets (pillars), that reflect definite attributes of environmental performance of a region. The decomposition of the aggregate index allows to trace the impact of these three groups of partial indicators on the environmental impact of the region. The research lays the foundation for regular analysis of the environmental factors of economic development and its dynamics in the regions of the Russian Federation. The rating is designed to meet the existing lack of appropriate indicator, assessing current state and potential of environmental responsibility of Russian regions, and can serve to improve regional ecological and economic policy.