Do Institutions Matter in Spatial Economics?

The article discusses the importance of institutions as the subject of spatial analysis, component of economic space and object of territorial strategic regulation. The author identifies methodological contradictions of the modern theory of spatial economics associated with contrast between institutional and geographical factors, ignoring polymorphism of institutions, the role of institutional configurations and the prevalence of exogenous interpretation of institutions. The author also classifies problems of measuring the quality of institutions and their integration in territorial strategies, including ignoring the interplay between institutions and other factors of spatial development, the absolutization of the role of integral indicators, the weakness of the methodological and methodical bases of formation of institutionalization strategies at regional and local level