The article discusses theoretical approaches to the identification of regional development factors and Russian studies on factors quantitative measurements. Objective limitations of such measurements are due to the peculiarities of Russian regions differentiation by the level of economic development, the big differentiation only at the edges and stable predominance of the median group with heterogeneous factors composition. «Floating» method for qualitative assessment of factors is proposed and

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... its limited application is shown, only for the most developed and lagging regions. The problems of factors quantitative assessment and the defects of statistical indicators for Russian regions were shown. To assess the role of the institutional factor, the regional policy of the federal authorities was analyzed via regions' budgets per capita spendings and leveling and geopolitical priorities were shown. The conclusion is made about the limited possibilities of an adequate quantitative assessment of the factors of economic development of the Russian regions.