Subject. This article deals with the issues of economic polarization of areas and problems of agricultural development, considering the Amur Oblast as a case study.
Objectives. The article aims to highlight the peculiarities of depressed area formation in the event of crisis and reduction of public support for the development of agriculture.
Methods. For the study, we used case, computational and analytical, abstract-logical, and statistical methods, and a comparative analysis.
Results. The article finds that the migration outflow of the able-bodied part of the rural population and the deterioration of its demographic structure are among the most important factors in the formation of depressed rural municipal areas.
Conclusions. Special sections on transformations in depressed areas should be included in the programmes of economic and social development of the Amur Oblast.