The researches have shown that cross-border cooperation renders determining influence on development of border regions. The analysis of development of border regions has allowed to allocate main factors - character of border, degree of development neighboring of regions and country as a whole, economic policy of the state concerning border regions. The place and role of forecasting in a management system of regional economy is shown. The analysis of development karelian economy is carried out and the reasons of occurring structural shifts are revealed. The offered methods and models are used for construction of the scenario of development karelian economy and is shown, that, despite of reduction of a population by 2030 on 25–30% its growth is possible.