At the years abroad looks changed to the regional process. In opinion of Э. Kuklinski, regional development, regional problems long time were "examined from point of financial approach. Building of new physical objects, such as factories and roads, was acknowledged the most important contribution to development of this region. Now most meaningful is non-material approach. Conception of regional development, oriented to knowledges and innovations, prevails not only in scientific, but also in a practical sphere in everything increasing number of countries".

By the way, E. Kuklinski examines regions as component parts of the spatial economic system, where forces of competition dominate. "Regions which — due to the more high competitiveness — can attract a considerable domestic and foreign market share... Thus, regions can be in principle examined as islands of innovations and spirit of enterprise in more wide context of spatial network".

It is necessary to underline that interest to, to the socio-economic districting of the territories characteristic not only for the USA but also for Canada, France, Great Britain, Germany, China. "Regional ideas" especially activated in Europe. on Decembers, 4, 1996 more than 300 European regions with different territories, device, being of interest the over 400 million citizens, accepted Declaration about in Europe. Main reason of acceptance of Declaration is aspiring to the further revivifying in the institutional scopes of the countries. The initiator of acceptance of Declaration was Assembly of regions of Europe, which in the program of actions aspires to confession of not only in the European union but also after his limits.

It is writtenin in Declaration, that a concept "region" "is expression distinctive political originality, which can accept the most different political forms, reflecting democratic will of every region to accept the that form of political organization which he will consider preferable. A region elects the guidance and sets the signs of distinction of his representative office".

Lately all greater number of specialists in area of regional science and especially direct leaders of edges, areas, republics meet in one: it is necessary to consider the regions of Russia subjects of Federation.

Much attention is spared a concept "region" and in modern economic, geographical and town-planning literature. Most the often used criteria for forming of concept "region" are:

• geographical (location, size of territory and amount of population);

• production-functional (specific of prevailing types of activity);

• town-planning (character of building of objects of production activity, habitation and service);

• sociological (norms of intercourse, conducts).