КОНВЕРГЕНТНІ ТА ДИВЕРГЕНТНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ ІНКЛЮЗИВНОГО РОЗВИТКУ СІЛЬСЬКО-МІСЬКИХ АГЛОМЕРАЦІЙ УКРАЇНИ: МІЖНАРОДНИЙ ТА УКРАЇНСЬКИЙ КОНТЕКСТ

The article examines the prerequisites and essence of institutionalization of inclusive development of united territorial communities (UTC) and districts as continuous rural-urban agglomerations. The purpose of the study is to clarify the importance of institutionalization for the inclusive development of rural-urban agglomerations of Ukraine. To achieve it, a task was formulated egarding disclosure the role of institutional support in the inclusive development of rural-urban socially-spatial entities; determination of the essence and content of inclusive development in community and district dimensions. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research are the works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the specified problem, systemic, synergistic and institutional approaches, methods of comparison, analysis and synthesis. It is proved that the inclusive development of these socio-spatial formations takes place in stages, starting with involvement through inclusion and ending with integration. The provision regarding the result of inclusive development is substantiated, which provides for the achievement of such a state of rural-urban agglomerations, when these formations will turn into an environment of social harmony and inclusion of well-being. The scientific novelty and practical significance of the conducted research consists in the periodization of the inclusive development of rural-urban agglomerations, revealing the evolution of their inclusiveness, starting from the stage of involvement (continuity) to integration (convergence). Based on the results of the research, conclusions were drawn regarding the lack of a direct connection between the process of administratively creating an agglomeration environment in the format of the community and district continuum and the onset of its inclusion; to presence of obstacles related to the insufficient justification of decisions regarding the size of UTC and districts during the implementation of the decentralization reform, failure to take into account their resource provision; of need to combine the efforts of central and municipal authorities, as well as self-governing institutions and the public in the policy of inclusive development. It was determined that further research should be focused on the development of the conceptual foundations of rural-urban agglomerations and ways of creating an inclusive environment for these entities.

As a result of the reform of the territorial organization of society in Ukraine, united territorial communities (UTC) and new districts identified as rural-urban agglomerations were formed. In this regard, there was a need to clarify the essence of this socio-spatial phenomenon, to determine its place in the system of social relations and in the solution of urgent socio-economic problems related to overcoming significant differences between the town and the countryside, of disparities in the development of regions. The article substantiates the need to determine the degree of dependence of the development of rural-urban agglomerations of Ukraine on the basis of inclusiveness from the impact on this process of urbanization and ruralization. In order to achieve this goal, the task was formulated ‒ to identify UTC and districts as rural-urban agglomeration formations; reveal the essence of socio-spatial inclusiveness; to find out the development trends of these agglomerations under the influence of urbanization and ruralization. The methodological basis of the study is the fundamental and latest works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on various aspects of inclusive development, the nature of agglomerations, and modern trends in the manifestation of urbanization and ruralization. The research was carried out using of interdisciplinary, systemic and institutional approaches, comparative, statistical methods, as well as methods of SWOT-analysis, deduction and induction, analysis and synthesis. The scientific novelty of the study consists in substantiating the position regarding the dependence of the inclusive development of rural-urban agglomerations on the influence of urbanization and ruralization. Taking into account the manifestation within the spatial boundaries of these agglomeration formations of urbanization and ruralization allowed us to carry out the appropriate typology of UTC and districts, classification according to urban and rural features of the regions of Ukraine. According to the results of the research, certain generalizations were made, practical recommendations were given, the use of which is appropriate in the conditions of the post-war recovery of Ukraine on the basis of inclusiveness. It is noted that their implementation as best as possible will require the continuation of scientific research in the specified direction.

Urban agglomerations in the regions of Ukraine play an important role in the development of the economy and social infrastructure, especially in the context of a full-scale war, when new challenges and opportunities for adaptation arise. In view of this, the purpose of the study is to review the development of agglomeration processes in Ukraine in the context of current global urban trends and wartime challenges. The article poses the following research questions: 1) What are the peculiarities of the development of agglomeration processes in Ukraine? 2) What is the place of agglomerations in the strategic vision of the development of Ukrainian regions? 3) What are the challenges and opportunities for the further development of urban agglomerations in the regions? It has been established that global trends in the development of urban agglomerations are focused on polycentric development, transport integration, greening, and the introduction of digital technologies to improve management efficiency. In Ukraine, these trends are party being implemented through the development of decentralisation, attempts to integrate public transport within agglomerations, and environmental initiatives, although their progress is slowed down by limited resources and the impact of the war. The article reviews the prerequisites for the development of urban agglomerations in the regions of Ukraine since independence, including demographic changes, economic concentration in large cities, transport infrastructure, and decentralisation reforms, which have created conditions for the spatial integration of settlements. The article studies the transformation of the role of agglomerations in the state vision of the strategic development of Ukrainian regions. The role of agglomerations in the state strategies of regional development of Ukraine has increased significantly in recent years. They have become important tools for stimulating economic growth, creating new jobs, and improving social services. In addition, agglomerations have become key to post-war recovery and adaptation to new economic realities, especially in the context of integration of internally displaced persons and infrastructure rehabilitation. The article examines the current challenges and opportunities for the development of urban agglomerations in Ukraine in the context of a full-scale war. It is established that the development of agglomerations in the regions of Ukraine faces a number of challenges, such as imbalances in the development of cities and suburbs, weak infrastructure, the influx of IDPs, environmental problems, and the impact of war. However, decentralisation creates opportunities for more effective governance. Continued adaptation of global trends can contribute to the sustainable development of Ukrainian agglomerations. Urban agglomerations in Ukraine have significant potential for development due to decentralisation, which creates conditions for cooperation between communities, and the growth of urbanisation processes. Integrating transport infrastructure, attracting investment in satellite cities, and implementing sustainable environmental and digital solutions can drive their progress. An important factor is the development of a legislative framework for the functioning of agglomerations in Ukraine, which is critical to ensure effective management of territories, infrastructure development, and improvement of the quality of life of the population. Such a legal framework will help to stimulate inter-municipal cooperation, integration of public transport, and implementation of environmental and economic initiatives within agglomerations.

The article reveals the prerequisites and essential characteristics of the model of inclusive development of socio-spatial formations. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the conceptual foundations of the formation of a scientific-applied paradigm of inclusive territorial development, the objects of which are UTC and districts that were formed in the process of implementing the decentralization reform. For its implementation, a number of tasks related to the disclosure of the essence and features of the formation of a scientific and practical paradigm of inclusive territorial development were formulated; determination of key demographic characteristics of UTC and districts in the cross-section of oblasts and regions of Ukraine; analysis of available criteria for evaluating the inclusive development of these socio-spatial formations. In particular, it is about the expediency of going beyond such normative criteria for assessing the economic capacity of territorial communities as the area of the territory of the community; population size; the number of students in general secondary education institutions; index of fiscal capacity of the budget; share of local taxes and fees in local budget revenues. This is confirmed by international practice, in particular, the decisions of the 48th World Economic Forum, which presented a new aggregate index of inclusive development, which overcomes the limits of purely economic indicators. The results of the study also indicate the expediency of taking into account the system of economic and socio-demographic indicators in the framework of the definition of the inclusive capacity of UTC and districts, proposed by domestic scientists. The scientific and practical novelty of the conducted research consists in the creative application of world paradigmatic theoretical and methodological provisions to the urgent tasks of conceptualizing the scientific-applied paradigm of inclusive development of UTC and districts as continuous socio-spatial formations. Based on the results of the study, conclusions were drawn, in particular, regarding the positioning of the paradigm of inclusive territorial development as a worldview-institutional-activity model for improving the territorial organization of society. The social purpose of this model is to overcome territorial injustice, eliminate spatial disparities and significant socio-economic differences between the countryside and the city, and improve the well-being of the population. It was noted that further research should be focused on the development of a system of criteria that characterize the inclusive capacity of the UTC and districts of Ukraine, taking into account their specificity and regional affiliation.

The paper deals with assessing the common trends in business cycle similarity and convergence in Europe. The main goal of the paper is to identify common cyclical co-movements and trends in convergence among the European countries so that the emerging European business cycle could be identified. Concerning the factors of business cycle, the research question of the paper is based on assumption that the integration effects are so dominant to bring the European cycle into existence. Also a potential influence of the global crisis on European and world business cycles is examined in the paper. The industrial production index is used to approximate business cycles. Hodrick-Prescott filter, Christiano-Fitzgerald filter and first differencing were used to dissect the cyclical components and identify the cycles in the data. The co-movements, trends of convergence and divergence of business cycles are identified using correlation analysis. Particularly, actual cross correlation and historical correlation in separated subsequent periods is applied in the analysis. Also an original measure of the European business cycle emergence was applied. The results do not provide an evidence of emerging European business cycle contrary to US cycle. The global economic crises was identified as a kind of negative symmetric shock pushing all major economies towards the recession phase of the cycle und thus increasing similarity. The results also shed some light on an influence of different detrending techniques when dissecting the cycles from the input macroeconomic time series.

Russia is facing one of the most severe demographic problems – low fertility rate. At the same time, fertility dynamics differ significantly across the regions of the country. Subsequently, the birth dynamics of first, second, and subsequent orders also differ. Our study identifies the types of regions that have the same or very similar fertility trends differentiated by birth order. For this purpose, we applied hierarchical cluster analysis based on Ward’s method and squared Euclidean distance. We used official Russian statistics and calculated three regional indicators as clustering variables, including the percentage change of the total fertility rate of first, second, and third and subsequent births from 2018 to 2022. We profiled clusters based on economic indicators (gross regional product [GRP], income, and housing provision) and population indicators (women’s age at first, second, and third and subsequent births), testing convergent and divergent trends in the dynamics of regional birth rates. Cluster analysis revealed four clusters of Russian regions with similar fertility trends differentiated by birth order. Cluster 1 includes 10 Russian regions and can be considered the most depressive cluster. Cluster 2 includes 18 Russian regions and can be called the driver of Russian population dynamics. Cluster 3, with 38 regions, and Cluster 4, with 19 regions, occupy intermediate positions between the first two clusters. We found no statistically significant differences between the clusters concerning the birth rates that prevailed in 2018; thus, their starting positions did not determine the regional fertility changes in 2018–2022. The analysis revealed that the clusters did not differ in the age of women at first, second, and third and subsequent births. We also did not find statistically significant differences among clusters in terms of the dynamics of economic indicators such as gross regional product, income, and housing provision. The results did not confirm that traditionally recognized economic determinants defined order-differentiated birth dynamics. Russian regions exhibited no convergent or divergent trends in order-differentiated birth dynamics. Our results established new research areas related to the analysis of birth rate determinants, such as informational support for regional programs to increase birth rates. The approach can form the foundation for developing a segmented state information policy in the demographic sphere. It also indicates the need for continuous monitoring of the reasons behind declining birth rates differentiated by birth order and the related stereotypes concerning various sociodemographic population groups.

The article is devoted to the assessment of the economic losses of Ukraine in 2022 as a result of armed conflict based on the analysis of remote sensing data. Today, under conditions of war in Ukraine, there are growing crises in the economic, social, natural, and other spheres of society. Under these conditions, there is a growing need for objective operational monitoring and assessment of the direction of changes in the economy and social sphere of life of the population. That is why the purpose of the study was chosen to evaluate the possibilities of using the VIIRS thermal imager data installed on the Suomi NPP satellite about the night illumination of the territory to monitor the socio-economic development of Ukrainian regions during military operations. The data from the Suomi NPP satellite for March 2021 (pre-war period) and 2022 (during the period of military aggression) were used for the study. Methodologically, the quantitative indicator chosen is the total light intensity (TLI), namely, the sum of the illuminance values of all pixels on the territory of each of the regions of Ukraine. It was found that the value of the total night illumination of the administrative regions of Ukraine depends on the number of settlements in the region, the development of industry and transport network, as well as the area of the administrative area. In addition, the intensity of illumination of the methodology of J. Vernon Henderson is closely related to an important indicator of economic activity—electricity consumption. The article presents statistical and illustrative results of the analysis of night illumination from the Suomi NPP/VIIRS satellite of the administrative regions of Ukraine for March 2021, and 2022. Analysis of the results showed that the value of the ratio of night light for March 2021, and 2022 vary in a wide range from 0.84 to 21.2. On average, the value of the change in the night light index for March 2021 and 2022 for all regions of Ukraine is 6.04. Such changes in nighttime illumination can be explained both directly by combat operations and by the observance of light camouflage, the introduction of curfew during martial law in Ukraine, as well as the small industrial and economic development of the economy in some regions of Ukraine and the low level of spatial concentration of the population. The novelty of this study is the improvement, based on the use of materials from the SNPP/VIIRS satellite with greater spatial resolution, of the previously developed nighttime illumination methodology and its practical application during active warfare.

This study investigates the ‘club convergence’ hypothesis applying the stochastic notion of convergence to groups of European regions. In order to avoid the group selection bias problem, the innovative regression tree technique was applied to select endogenously the most important variables in achieving the best identification of groups on the base of per capita income and productive specialization. Tests on stochastic convergence in each group evidences a strong convergence among the wealthiest regions of the European Union and a trend of weak convergence among the remaining groups, confirming Baumol's hypothesis of convergence.

The object of research is the processes of development of the hotel industry, as one of the most important elements of the tourist infrastructure of the regions. Let’s consider these processes using the example of the regions of Ukraine. One of the most problematic areas for the development of the hotel industry in the regions of Ukraine is the quality of hotel services and the condition of hotel rooms, which often do not meet international standards and norms. The number of business entities in the hotel business in Ukraine, in comparison with European countries, is also insignificant and during the period of large-scale events in the regions does not meet the demand for hotel services. In the work, research methods were used, which made it possible to determine the problem areas of the development of the hotel industry in the regions of Ukraine and propose ways to solve them. For example, to determine the content of the definition of «quality of hotel services», let’s use the method of generalization and systematization, to analyze the state and development of the hotel industry in the regions of Ukraine, let’s use the analytical method, etc. In the course of the study, a platform for the development of the hotel industry at the regional level was developed, taking into account the trends in the regional development of the hotel industry. This is due to the fact that the proposed process approach to the development of the studied processes has a number of advantages, in particular, the proposed software platform for the development of the hotel industry at the regional level provides for the choice of regional strategies for the development of the processes under study, taking into account the regional characteristics of the activities of hotel enterprises. Thanks to this approach, it is possible for hotel enterprises in the regions to unite into hotel or tourist clusters, hospitality associations, etc., in accordance with the presence in Ukraine of regions of leaders and regions of outsiders in the development of the hotel industry. Accordingly, the results can be useful both for the regions of Ukraine and beyond its borders, for better understanding and management in the current conditions of the pandemic.

Економічні аспекти виробництва і споживання гречки в Україні

The article runs about the advantages of the cluster approach to the development of the region which, in contrast to others, has to set up close partner ties, the aim of which is to provide the competitiveness both of each separate participant of cluster, and the union on the whole by means of introducing innovations. The cluster union formation is of great of great importance for the economic activity of the region to be efficient, as it encourages attracting investments and producing competitive products and services on the innovative technologies basis. In the article the author draws attention to a low activity of cluster forming process in Ukraine, as in the country there are a set of challenges connected with financial resource deficiency, no confidence to the power bodies, low awareness of enterprises of clustering advantages. The cluster value as an important universal instrument capable of enhancing the economic competitiveness of individual countries (or regions) and the efficient development of the modern global economy is substantiated. On the basis of the research performed there have been defined the main tasks of making the process of clusterization to be more active in the regions of Ukraine. The article analyzes the concept of inclusive development and identifies its key points. The research made it possible to find out that there are a significant number of factors varieties in quality, intensity, force of manifestation and effect, that influence or may have an impact on inclusive local development, which is important for improving the well-being and life quality of the local population, expansion and realization its rights and opportunities. The practical significance of the results obtained is that the scientific findings, the results obtained and the suggested recommendations are a practical basis for the development and improvement of the clustering process in ensuring the economic security of the state.

Impacts of regional development policy on inter-local spatial-socioeconomic disparities: trends in convergence and divergence

This study investigates the dynamics of agricultural land prices across the European Union (EU) from 2006 to 2022, focusing on trends of convergence and divergence among member states. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including econometric analysis of price convergence models and comparative policy evaluation, the research identifies critical economic, policy, and environmental factors influencing land markets. The results indicate price convergence in Eastern European countries, such as Romania and Poland, driven by EU policies, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and increased foreign investment. In contrast, Western European countries like the Netherlands and Luxembourg show price stability at elevated levels due to mature markets and limited land availability. The findings reveal a nuanced interaction between EU-wide and national policies, with CAP fostering convergence in emerging markets while maintaining price stability in developed ones. This study underscores the importance of tailored policy measures to address market disparities, support smaller farmers, and promote sustainable rural development across diverse EU regions.

The article focuses on the history of the formation of the American version of the English language and the evolution of its development. Two approaches to the periodization of American English are presented. Thus, the author considers the traditional approach, in which two periods are distinguished, and a more innovative one proposed by A.W. Reed (distinguishes four periods). The main factors that influenced the development of American English are analyzed. In particular, the author emphasizes the following main factors: the military power and economic potential of the United States, world leadership in the international arena, the rapid development of the cultural and information component, as well as the "simplicity" and flexibility of modern American English. The author analyzes the linguistic simplification of the language which notes a significant simplification of phonetic, lexical, grammatical and stylistic levels in American English. The researcher defines lexical and semantic features and typical peculiarities of grammatical constructions; outlines the prospects for further development o f American English. It is argued that the need for lexical items to denote, on the one hand, previously unknown concepts, and, on the other hand, the need for common names for existing household items, led to the emergence of neologisms, among which two main categories are distinguished: fully assimilated and partially assimilated. It is postulated that socio-cultural, geographical and migration factors are fundamental for the determination linguistic features of American English. The trends of convergence and divergence, as well as aim to find a national identity, have determined the trajectory of the development of American English.

The plateau of Yagour is one of the high places of the cultural and natural heritage of the northern watershed of the Toubkal massif in Morocco. Through their ancestral know-how, they maintain a symbiosis between two productive systems, namely agriculture (vegetable, cereal and fruit), and extensive livestock farming. Common property is shared and managed by rights holders from neighbouring valleys. Today, the development of the accessibility of the Yagour favours the mobility of riparian populations and, of course, tourists. Straddling between the valley of mass tourism of “Ourika” and the valley barely touristic of “Zat”, the Yagour plateau should in the near future face the challenges of the tourism industry. In the face of such an upheaval and in order to ensure the sustainability and promotion of the various heritage resources, this article will first examine the changes and developments in the different production systems, their trends of convergence or divergence, and the resulting synergies and competitions. In a second phase, we will discuss the potential and the challenges that tourism could bring to this territory, its heritage and the people who live there. Finally, we will examine the role of mediation between actors, in their nested and hierarchical system, in order to face the new stakes of this territory, as well as the role of tourism as a facilitator of this mediation.