Кластери як дієвий інструмент організаційно-економічного механізму забезпечення сталого розвитку сільських територій

The article substantiates diversification as a tool to ensure sustainable development of rural areas in decentralization, which contributes to increasing incomes of the rural population, increasing gross agricultural and non-agricultural products, ensuring the competitiveness of rural areas, achieving economic, food and environmental safety, rational use, protection and reproduction of natural resources. In the process of researching the level of sustainable development of rural areas, monographic and graphic methods and scientific generalization were used. The study identified internal factors that affect the sustainable development of rural areas. Social factors include living conditions, the situation on the labor market, the state of social infrastructure. Economic factors should include the provision of agricultural land, the state of diversification of agricultural and non-agricultural activities, the amount of investment in economic development, the level and structure of household income in rural areas. Environmental factors include the level of air pollution, the situation with waste, the use of freshwater, the application of fertilizers to soils, the production and restoration of forests, the level of investment in environmental protection. External factors influencing the sustainable development of rural areas include the political situation in the country and the world; decentralization process; state programs to support rural development and agriculture; the level of supply and demand for goods and services produced in a particular area, etc. It is substantiated that diversification is a tool to ensure sustainable development and strengthen the competitive advantages of rural areas. It is stipulated that attracting investments in rural development and diversification of economic activity will contribute to job creation; income growth of rural residents; the revival of local crafts, customs and crafts, improvement of villages and change of consciousness of villagers. Further research should be carried out in the direction of calculating the integrated index of sustainable development of rural areas in Ukraine to identify regional disparities in the social, economic and environmental spheres of the functioning of these areas in the context of decentralization.

The demographic situation in rural areas of Ukraine has become increasingly significant in light of the administrative-territorial reform of 2020, the country's European integration course, and contemporary social challenges, including the repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war. Negative demographic trends, such as depopulation, population aging, and declining birth rates, critically affect national security and the sustainable development of regions, highlighting the importance of this research. Objective of the study: to evaluate demographic trends in the rural areas of the Zhytomyr region as a foundation for the sustainable development of the region and for shaping state policies to support rural populations. The study is based on statistical data provided by the Main Department of Statistics in the Zhytomyr region, the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration, and analytical materials from Ukrainian and international researchers. Methods of statistical analysis, graphical modeling, and comparison were employed. The research identified a persistent decline in the rural population of the Zhytomyr region—since 1995, its size has decreased by 28 %. As of 2022, rural residents account for 40.4 % of the region's total population. A significant disparity in population distribution across districts was observed, with the highest concentration in the Zhytomyr district and the lowest in the Berdychiv district. Key factors contributing to this decline include depopulation, low birth rates, migration, high mortality rates, and deteriorating living conditions. The study highlights a substantial reduction in rural birth rates, which remain below the replacement level. Factors influencing this decline include socioeconomic conditions, youth migration, the professional engagement of women, and low income levels. Simultaneously, increasing mortality rates, coupled with migration losses, exacerbate the demographic crisis. Ensuring the sustainable development of rural areas requires the implementation of comprehensive state and regional policies aimed at creating favorable conditions for living, working, and population reproduction. These policies must also consider the impact of ecological and socio-political factors, particularly the consequences of the war. The findings of the study can be utilized to develop strategies for the sustainable development of rural areas, plan demographic policies, and implement programs for the socio-economic support of rural populations.

The impact of human activity on the environment is becoming increasingly evident in the modern world. Growing industrialization, the use of natural resources, and environmental pollution lead to serious environmental problems at the global level. In this context, preserving natural resources in rural areas is particularly important. Villages and rural areas, an essential component of society, also play a crucial role in ensuring environmental and economic sustainability. Balanced environmental and economic sustainability in rural areas is a task that requires a comprehensive approach and interaction between different actors, including local authorities, communities, businesses, and civil society organizations. Environmental sustainability involves preserving the diversity of nature, maintaining ecosystems, and using resources rationally without harming the environment. Economic sustainability is the development of agriculture and enterprises that provide vital goods and services while preserving the region's ecological integrity. The study aims to analyze the ecological and economic sustainability of rural areas and provide recommendations on preserving natural resources and ensuring their sustainable development. This article analyzes various aspects of the environmental and economic sustainability of rural areas in Ukraine. The importance of preserving natural resources, the possibility of using new technologies for sustainable agriculture, and the role of communities and the state in achieving these goals are considered. The trends and critical issues are assessed across dimensions like natural resource management, pollution in rural areas, etc., drawing upon data from national statistics, government reports, academic studies, and field surveys. It is determined that it is necessary to implement measures aimed at conserving natural resources to ensure the sustainable development of rural areas. This is achieved by introducing resource-saving and environmentally friendly technologies, developing alternative energy sources, promoting environmental culture, and improving the socio-economic situation in rural areas. This is achieved by creating new jobs, developing infrastructure, and providing social services. An essential condition for ensuring the sustainable development of rural areas is an integrated approach that considers all these factors. Rural areas play an essential role in ensuring food security and sustainable development of the country. However, in the process of economic activity in rural areas, significant environmental and economic problems arise that threaten the sustainability of these areas. Particular attention should be focused on integrated approaches that enhance synergies between the economic, environmental, and social spheres rather than individual initiatives. The importance of involving rural residents is emphasized to implement sustainability principles in rural lifestyles and institutions. Keywords: sustainable development, rural areas of Ukraine, theoretical aspects, practical aspects, environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, natural resource conservation, agriculture, communities.

Проведён анализ существующих подходов к раскрытию экономического содержания дефиниции устойчивое развитие сельских территорий в отечественной и зарубежной практике. Обоснован авторский подход к оценке устойчивого развития сельских территорий, предусматривающий расчёт комплексного интегрального показателя по трём составляющим устойчивого развития (экономическое, социальное, экологическое). С учётом предлагаемой авторами методики проведён анализ устойчивого развития сельских территорий субъектов Российской Федерации. Introduction. In the context of increasing global economic instability, it is important to achieve the sustainable development of the country and its regions. Socioeconomic effectiveness of the development of the country as a whole is largely determined with the sustainable development of its rural areas. In the face of new global risks and opportunities, rural areas become the most important economic and demographic component of any state. The goal of the study is to develop a methodological approach to assess the sustainable development of rural areas.Results. The analysis of the existing approaches to the disclosure of economic content of definition sustainable development of rural areas in domestic and foreign practice was carried out. The authors substantiate a methodical approach to the assessment of sustainable development of rural areas which includes four consecutive stages. The analysis of the sustainable development of rural areas in the federal districts of the Russian Federation was conducted. As a tool for assessing the sustainable development of rural areas of the federal districts of Russia, a comprehensive integrated indicator of sustainable development is taken. It is used as a geometric mean of particular indicators (social, economic and environmental). Conclusion. The proposed methodology for assessing the sustainable development of rural areas can not only determine the level of their sustainable development in general, but also makes it possible to assess the level of sustainability of a certain area (economic, social, environmental) and assess the factors affecting the sustainable development of rural areas in dynamics. The results of the assessment of the factors determining the sustainability of the development of rural areas are necessary for the development by the government authorities of the relevant measures and programs for their further development.

The aim of the study is to develop a system of economic and mathematical tools for modeling the socio-demographic development of rural areas. In preparing the article, theoretical methods of economic research were used. The sustainable development of rural areas is the most important goal of modern state agrarian policy. Different points of view on the problem under study indicate the need for more in-depth scientific study and concretization of practical measures for the stable development of rural areas. The modern socio-economic situation in the countryside is characterized by high unemployment, poverty, negative trends in the social sphere: a worsening demographic situation, destruction of social infrastructure, processes of outflow and degradation of the labor force. Changing the quality characteristics of rural life negatively affects the reproduction of labor resources as the basis for sustainable socio-economic development of rural areas. Modelling the socio-demographic development of rural areas of the region is one of the necessary strategic goals of agricultural, demographic and social policies, the achievement of which will ensure food security, the competitiveness of the national economy and improving the quality of life of the population. The article substantiates and adapts a system of economic and mathematical tools for modeling the socio-demographic development of rural territories, in which, in conjunction with the scientific provisions of known theories, correlation-regression and deterministic factor models with corresponding indicators from the declared methods were used, significantly expanding the field of their practical application.

The role of the natural resource capacity as a key factor of sustainable development in rural areas is actualized in the article. We point out that the development of a strategy for the sustainable development of rural areas is impossible without comprehensive accounting and assessment of the natural and climatic conditions of the functioning in the considered area. An analysis of the current state and development of the natural resource capacity in rural areas is made on the example of the Non-humus zone in the Republic of Bashkortostan. A detailed description of the climatic conditions at the regional level is given. The actual agricultural specialization and combination of crop and livestock sectors of agro-organizations is established taking into account the differentiation of natural resource and soil-climatic conditions and is caused by regional differences. It is affirmed that the Non-humus zone in the Republic of Bashkortostan has a great natural and resource potential, which, with effective use, makes it possible to ensure sustainable development of rural areas. The main part of the territory under consideration has sufficient bioclimatic and soil resources, which allow creating sustainable premises for the development of agricultural industries, the production of basic types of food. We concluded that natural and soil-climatic factors have a significant impact on the conditions of functioning of modern agriculture, which, in turn, directly affects the sustainable development of agro-organizations. We summarized that the design of the main options of the sustainable development strategy for rural areas of the Non-humus zone in the Republic of Bashkortostan should directly take into account the specific features of the development of the natural and resource capacity of the area.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to reveal the scientific and methodological foundations for assessing the environmental component of sustainable development of rural areas. Results. On the example of the Volyn region of Ukraine the system analysis of ecological situation is accomplished in a region, taking into account the level of material well-being and efficiency of the use of natural (land) resources. The level of anthropogenic and technogenic load in rural areas, as well as the state of intensification of environmental protection activities, was determined. The necessity of developing a system of measures for the formation and provision of environmental conditions for the sustainable development of rural areas is proved. Scientific novelty. Based on the results of the study, it was determined that the main disadvantages of the modern agricultural landscapes of Volyn are: intensive use of degraded, unproductive and radioactively contaminated lands; irrational use of especially valuable productive lands; violation of optimal crop rotations and their saturation with erosion-hazardous crops; inconsistency of land use with their agro-ecological characteristics; violation of the optimal ratio in agrolandscapes of various types of land (natural, semi-natural and anthropogenic); spread and deepening of degradation processes; unsatisfactory state of forest reclamation of agrolandscapes and insignificant development of lands for nature protection purposes. To correct these shortcomings, a new, scientifically based approach to agricultural production using modern innovative technologies is needed. Practical value. Prospects for the development of agricultural production in the Volyn region require environmental orientation and the development of fundamentally new approaches to the organization and management of quality of the environment in agricultural production. It is necessary to provide scientific, methodological, informational and consulting assistance to the population on farming and land use. The Volyn Polissya zone has a favorable geographical position, favorable natural and climatic conditions, a great historical and cultural heritage, natural recreational and medical resources, the rational and careful use of which will ensure the sustainable development of rural areas.

Systemic economic, environmental and social problems of rural areas in modern world make the issue of public policy for their sustainable development particularly topical. The socioeconomic development of the Russian Federation, increased volumes of agricultural output, growing efficiency of the agricultural sector, full employment of the rural population and improving its living conditions, as well as achieving efficient land use require proper legal support. The main strategic planning documents regulating aspects of sustainable development of rural areas are represented by three groups of political and legal acts regarding their: 1) agricultural development, 2) sustainable development, 3) spatial development. Most research articles cover one of these aspects of facilitating the development of rural areas. The sources demonstrate the lack of comprehensive legal studies covering the issues of sustainable development of rural areas. The present article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal regulation of facilitating sustainable development of rural areas in each of the aspects mentioned. The methods of comparative analysis and legal hermeneutics applied made it possible to reveal contradictions and gaps in the strategic planning documents. This precludes the possibility of specifying a single conceptual model of legal regulation of sustainable development of rural areas. The authors have considered the internal and external sides of the model of legal regulation, outlined the legal approaches to its formation in modern geopolitical, economic and social conditions. The article identifies the problems of legal support for sustainable development of rural areas and considers ways to solve them.

The article presents approaches to clustering of recreation and tourism facilities. The author sets the problem of sustainable development of rural areas which do not have agricultural specialization. Such territories include areas with the tourist and recreational potential. In these areas, agriculture is not developed due to its natural peculiarities, though they belong to rural areas. There, the standard of living is lower than in the areas with developed agricultural production. Rural areas with the tourist and recreational potential, as a rule, have land resources related to specially protected natural areas or are in close proximity to them which complicates the management process as applying generally accepted management methods to such specific areas does not give the desired effect. The author proposes to apply the elements of cluster policy in order to improve the efficiency of land management in such rural areas. The researcher analyzes Mostovsky district of Krasnodar Krai as the most striking example of a rural area with the tourist and recreational specialization. The creation of territorial tourist and recreational clusters was carried out in several steps. The property items were selected with the use of expert analysis. They are land plots for recreation and tourism facilities that meet the requirements. Three large groups of sites were created to simplify data processing. Further, the enlarged groups were divided into 12 sectors by the expert and graphical methods. This method is very approximate and does not give serious results. The author proposes to apply the mathematical methods for more accurate clustering. The author uses the Euclidean distance method and the “nested spheres method” resulting in the formation of three territorial tourism and recreation clusters of the district. The article describes the main directions of using the results of the suggested clustering methodology which will be the basis for making optimal management decisions to improve the land use efficiency in rural areas.

The article examines the factors influencing the development of rural areas of the Leningrad Region, with an emphasis on the role of engineering and social infrastructure. The objective of the study is to identify a statistically significant relationship between the level of infrastructure development (social and engineering) and key demographic indicators of rural areas: the number of rural settlements, the size of the rural population and its share in the total population of the region. To assess the strength of the relationships, we calculated paired linear correlation coefficients. The study revealed contradictory trends: the size of the rural population of the Leningrad Region in 2005–2024 increased by 71,1 thousand people (12,5%), while in Russia as a whole it decreased by 4,7%; the share of the rural population in the region has been steadily declining (from 34,6% in 2015 to 30,2% in 2025). During the period of the regional program “Comprehensive Development of Rural Areas” (2019–2024), the network of outpatient and polyclinic (4391 visits per shift), educational (3650 places in 2024), and cultural and leisure facilities (3186 places in 2015–2025) was significantly expanded. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between the growth of infrastructure and demographic indicators. It is concluded that traditional approaches to rural development based on the expansion of social and engineering infrastructure do not ensure sustainable growth of the rural population in the Leningrad Region. The availability of infrastructure is an important, but not a determining factor in development. This necessitates the development of new mechanisms for the sustainable development of rural areas that take into account modern trends (remote work, a comfortable living environment independent of the local labor market, etc.).

The paper focuses on the main problems of sustainable development of rural areas and the effectiveness of state support in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The theoretical bases of the concepts of “sustainable development” and “sustainable development of rural territories” were studied. As a result, the authors defined these concepts and analyzed the effectiveness of measures of state support and development in rural areas of Kazakhstan. The authors also analyzed and proposed the usage of international experience in the development of rural settlements. This research allows asserting that current state regional policies suffer from a lack of attention to the sustainable development of rural territories. Thus, the heterogeneity of local territories is preserved and strengthened, becoming a factor of their social instability, creating a threat to the country’s food security. The need to develop theoretical approaches and practical proposals for the sustainable development of the main types of rural areas, including a methodology for the development of rural settlements and effective tools to support the revival of rural territories, is described.

The effectiveness of the development of the agricultural sector of the economy directly affects the socio-economic development of the country, rural areas. Among the factors of sustainable development of agricultural production, a special place has recently been given to state support. It allows not only to increase the efficiency of agricultural enterprises, but also contributes to the development of rural settlements and employment in them. Therefore, research in the field of integrated development of rural areas is currently relevant for many regions. The purpose of the study is to study the development trends of the agricultural sector of the economy as the basis for the development of rural areas, to identify problems that hinder this development. In the course of the study, various methods were used to study processes and phenomena in the field of organizational and economic relations: analysis and synthesis, systematic and logical approaches to studying trends in the development of the agricultural sector of the economy, the integrated development of rural areas, graphical interpretation of theoretical information and empirical data. As a result, shortcomings in the mechanism for implementing the state program for the development of rural areas were identified, and corrective measures for this mechanism were proposed.

In Vietnam, rural area is a region for living and working of a rural resident community, including mainly farmers. It is a region of agricultural production (by the general meaning). Besides, there are manufacturing activities and service, but priority is given to agriculture and rural community. Meanwhile, the rural density is lower than urban density. Vietnam introduced its development programme “Building new rural areas”, which program aims at finding a concept of sustainable development in rural areas in order to emerge the role of sustainable development toward the National direction for local strategies and to ensure sustainable rural development. This paper is a work at the scope of reviews and literature available worldwide in development policies and programmes on sustainable rural development. It compares the dimensions of these policies and programmes on the basis of definitions, methodology and practical framework applied in order to identify a promotion for building new rural areas in disciplines, and especially supply a background for data analyses of the Vietnamese case in the National Target Programme “Building new rural areas during the period 2011-2015”.

<p>This study focuses on developing tourist villages as sustainable tourist destinations. The aim of this research is to determine the role of the government in tourism development which is carried out in a comprehensive and integrated manner by wisely utilizing natural resources, culture and geographical conditions. sustainable development, especially in rural areas, is expected to contribute to increasing welfare, equality and environmental awareness for the community. The research method was carried out using a qualitative approach, using observation, documentation and interview techniques to collect various complete data and information by determining research data sources, collecting and analyzing qualitative data, making conclusions and recommendations. The research results show that the government's role is quite large, although it has not succeeded in achieving targets in implementing various tourism developments in rural areas related to three role indicators, namely: 1) regulator, 2) dynamist, and 3) facilitator.</p>

Actuality. Last years the central Ukraine territories have been faced the new challenge such as the need to provide energy efficient housing and jobs (employment) for displaced people from Donbas regions. In the same time in the state level, the economic development of rural areas, as the agrarian sector is leading today. That is only the multi-disciplinary approach may provide the complex solution for rural support and sustainable development. In the context of circular economy the combination of building and agrarian sectors is logical as the building sector may propose the rational way of agriculture waste recycling and the rural infrastructure development together with new activities providing. The purpose. To develop a scientifically sound model of rural area planning development based in the integration of hybrid multi-functional building structures, taking into account the main principles of sustainable development and circular economy. Methodology. The model is based on a review of scientific work on the problem and the analysis of statistical data. It uses the methods of field research to study the features of sustainable development and energy-efficient structure systems in the rural areas. Findings. A new approach to design and structural solutions of the rural area is proposed, using the innovative hybrid system, which supports the balanced energy and information flows. In this model, the symbiosis of agricultural, administrative, and blocked individual buildings is key to the rural area agrarian building cluster unit, which is energy-efficient and autonomous (independent). The combination of environmental building technologies with modern bio-agricultural technologies can solve many of the socio-economic problems of the modern village - providing affordable quality housing, safe and useful work with green farming technologies, in tourism, and in scientific spheres. The proposed solution integrates rural area cultural and material heritage conservation as a socially important element. The research focuses on environmentally clean and renewable local materials: straw, flax, reed, hemp, earth-concrete, and others. Ideally, the proposal will achieve nearly 100% utilization, or recycling, of the construction and shell building materials in the end of building life cycle. It will also design solutions for nearly zero waste during exploitation. Scientific novelty and practical value. The spatial planning model of the region meets the basic criteria of sustainable development: economic and energy efficiency, social orientation, environmental friendliness, preservation of cultural heritage. The implementation of the proposed new planning model and building construction will facilitate balanced development and renaissance of the rural area.