UDC 332.1:911.375; JEL R11, R12, O18
Melnyk, M. I., & Leshchukh, I. V. (2025). Prostorovo-ekonomichna zv’yaznist' mista L'vova ta hromad oblasti: perspektyvy ahlomeratsiynoho rozvytku [Spatial and economic connectivity of the city of Lviv and the communities of the oblast: prospects for agglomeration development]. In Sotsial'no-ekonomichni problemy suchasnoho periodu Ukrayiny [Socio-Economic Problems of the Modern Period of Ukraine]: Vol. 171 (1) (pp. 25-38). DOI: https://doi.org/10.36818/2071-4653-2025-1-4 [in Ukrainian].
Sources: 17

Authors



Melnyk Maryana Ivanivna

Doctor of Economics, Professor

Head of the Department of spatial development of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: mar.melnyk@gmail.com, (032)270-70-53, (+38099)72-93-873

Webpages:

Leshchukh Iryna Volodymyrivna

Ph.D. of Economics, Senior Researcher

Senior Researcher, Scientific Secretary of the unit of the Department of spatial development of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: ira_leschukh@ukr.net, ira_borsch@mail.ru, (+38096)751-33-89

Webpages:

Resume

The article examines the spatial and economic influence of Lviv as the core of an emerging agglomeration on the territorial communities of Lvivska Oblast. The research is based on a comprehensive spatial analysis that integrates Schaffle’s gravitational model, a spatial integration index based on residential construction, and Moran's I index to assess the intensity and depth of interaction across various socio-economic parameters. Particular attention is paid to the radial structure of spatial connections between the regional center and surrounding communities. The study uses Python-based geospatial visualization tools (geopandas, matplotlib, shapely) to model commuter flows, allowing a detailed assessment of transport accessibility and functional connectivity between communities and the city of Lviv. The article tests the hypothesis that the level of socio-economic development of territorial communities is spatially dependent on their proximity to the core of business activity — the city of Lviv. The results confirm a clear inverse correlation: as the distance from the core increases, the intensity of spatial-economic interaction decreases. This trend results in a radial-zonal structure of influence, with the highest degree of integration observed in suburban communities within a 15 km radius, which form the inner belt of the Lviv agglomeration. These communities demonstrate strong functional ties with the core, including commuting patterns, business activity, housing development, and logistical integration. In contrast, communities located 30–70 km away show fragmented interactions, while more distant areas (over 70 km) display minimal integration and increasing autonomy, often forming localized centers of economic growth. The study also identifies key spatial barriers and underutilized growth points, which are important for the design of a balanced regional development strategy. The results highlight the role of industrial parks, transport infrastructure, and commuting networks in shaping spatial cohesion. The research underlines the need for polycentric development models that enhance cooperation between the core and the periphery, supporting the diffusion of agglomeration effects over a wider area. Ultimately, the findings provide a solid empirical foundation for evidence-based spatial planning and the formulation of policies aimed at strengthening economic integration and regional resilience in post-war Ukraine.

Keywords:

agglomeration, spatial-economic interaction, agglomeration space, territorial communities, Moran’s Index, gravity model, transport accessibility

References


1. Storper, M. (2013). Keys to the city: How economics, institutions, and politics shape development. Princeton: Princeton University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/s1537592715001814. Retrieved from https://dokumen.pub/keys-to-the-city-how-economics-institutions-social-interaction-and-politics-shape-development-9781400846269.html
2. Moretti, E. (2013). The New Geography of Jobs. Boston. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5070/BP326119007
3. Sassen, S. (2001). The global City: NewYork, London, Tokyo. Princeton: Princeton University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7440/res10.2001.14
4. Dudnyk, A. (2016). Sustainable development of urban systems: theoretical aspects. Ekonomichnyy visnyk Natsional'noho hirnychoho universytetu – Economic Bulletin of the National Mining University, 3(55), 162-171.
5. Melnyk, M. I. (Ed.) (2016). Metropoliyni funktsiyi velykykh mist Ukrayiny: potentsial rozvytku ta perspektyvy realizatsiyi [Metropolitan functions of large cities of Ukraine: development potential and implementation prospects]. Lviv: Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine. [in Ukrainian].
6. Melnyk, M., & Leshchukh, I. (2024). Stratehichni priorytety intehrovanoho prostorovoho rozvytku na osnovi aktyvizatsiyi ahlomeratsiynykh protsesiv [Strategic priorities of integrated spatial development on the basis of activation of agglomeration processes]. Modeling the development of the economic systems, 1, 163-169. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31891/mdes/2024-11-23 [in Ukrainian].
7. Melnyk, M., Leshchukh, I., & Tchaykovskyy, V. (2024). Problemy ta instrumenty formuvannya intehrovanoho ekonomichnoho prostoru Ukrayiny v umovakh viyny ta povoyennoyi vidbudovy [Problems and tools of formation of the integrated economic space of Ukraine during the war and post‐war reconstruction]. Akademichni viziyi – Academic visions, 30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10977761 [in Ukrainian].
8. Steshenko, T., & Alyyeva, A. (2023). Mis'ki ahlomeratsiyi yak forma spivrobitnytstva terytorial'nykh hromad [Urban agglomerations as a form of cooperation of territorial communities]. Yurydychnyy naukovyy elektronnyy zhurnal – Legal scientific electronic journal, 3, 114-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0374/2023-3/25
9. Stepanenko, A. V., & Omelchenko, A. A. (2019). Mis'ki ahlomeratsiyi yak forma suchasnoho svitovoho protsesu urbanizatsiyi [The urban agglomerations as a form of the modern world process of urbanization]. Derzhava ta rehiony. Seriya: Ekonomika ta pidpryyemnytstvo – State and Regions. Series: Economy and Entrepreneurship, 3, 184-192. [in Ukrainian].
10. Kil'kist' nayavnoho naselennya [Current population] (2024). Local open data portal of Lviv region: Website. Retrieved from https://data.loda.gov.ua/dataset/ebd1c352-25c8-4f6d-ad2d-cee1ac8a525d [in Ukrainian].
11. Rozrakhunok vidstani mizh mistamy Ukrayiny, Yevropy, Aziyi [Calculation of distances between cities in Ukraine, Europe, Asia] (2024). DELLA: Website. Retrieved from https://della.ua/distance [in Ukrainian].
12. Hudzelyak, I. (2023). Heohrafiya vnutrishn’o peremishchenykh osib u L’vivs’kiy oblasti [Geography of internally displaced persons in Lviv region]. In Heohrafichna osvita i nauka: vyklyky i postup [Geographical Education and Science: Challenges and Progress]: Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference (pp. 257-260). Lviv. Retrieved from https://geography.lnu.edu.ua/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hudzeliak-I. Heohrafiia-vpo-Lviv-obl-2023-stattya.pdf [in Ukrainian].
13. Pro zatverdzhennya Stratehiyi rozvytku L'vivs'koyi ahlomeratsiyi na period do 2027 roku: rozporyadzhennya L'vivs'koyi oblasnoyi derzhavnoyi (viys'kovoyi) administratsiyi [On approval of the Development Strategy of the Lviv Agglomeration for the period until 2027] (2023). Order of the Lviv Regional State (Military) Administration, dated 2023, Dec 01, 1156/0/5-23VA. Lviv Regional Military Administration: Website. Retrieved from https://loda.gov.ua/documents/87308 [in Ukrainian].
14. Perspektyvy rozvytku L'vivs'koyi ahlomeratsiyi: sotsial'no-ekonomichnyy analiz [Development prospects of the Lviv agglomeration: socio-economic analysis] (2023). Lviv: Lviv Regional Military Administration. [in Ukrainian].
15. Industrial'ni parky Ukrayiny [Industrial parks of Ukraine] (2025). Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. Retrieved from https://me.gov.ua/view/921b538a-a841-4ede-8a33-29c313b81789 [in Ukrainian].
16. Local statistics portal of Lviv region: Website (2024). Retrieved from https://stat.loda.gov.ua [in Ukrainian].
17. Velykyy L'viv i navit' bil'she: skil'ky lyudey shchodnya pryyizhdzhaye do L'vova? [Greater Lviv and even more: how many people come to Lviv everyday?] (2024). Lviv Open Data. City Panel: Website. Retrieved from https://dashboard.city-adm.lviv.ua/velykyy-lviv-i-navit-shche-bilshe [in Ukrainian].