Journal
УКР   ENG
Socio-Economic Problems
of the Modern Period of Ukraine
   



Collection SEPSPU -- sep2026.03.010

Repository of Institute of Regional Research UDC 332.1:338.2; JEL R11, R12, R58, I31
Melnyk, M. I., & Leshchukh, I. V. (2026). Dominanty rehulyuvannya prostorovo-strukturnykh transformatsiy sotsial'no-ekonomichnoho rozvytku rehioniv u vymiri rezyl'yentnosti ta yakosti zhyttya naselennya Ukrayiny [Dominants in the regulation of spatial and structural transformation in regional socio-economic development in terms of resilience and quality of life of Ukraine’s population]. Sotsial'no-ekonomichni problemy suchasnoho periodu Ukrayiny [Socio-Economic Problems of the Modern Period of Ukraine], 3(175), 10-19. [in Ukrainian].
Sources: 23

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

Webpages:

Resume

The article examines the spatial and structural transformations in the socio-economic development of Ukraine’s regions and their impact on the resilience of quality of life under full-scale war. The study applies comparative spatial analysis, assessment of interregional variation, and analysis of structural changes to identify risks that exacerbate territorial differentiation. These include growing inequality in economic opportunities and the fiscal capacity of communities; a mismatch between the actual distribution of population and the capacity of housing and basic infrastructure; housing instability and unequal affordability; structural imbalances in regional economies; unequal access to social services; disruption to functional connectivity and life-support systems; and the prolonged functional unsuitability of some territories for safe residence, economic activity, and population return. The empirical results demonstrate that wartime spatial changes are multidirectional. Territories experiencing substantial population outflow suffer losses of economic, human, and infrastructural capacity, while recipient regions and large cities face increasing pressure on housing, public services, transport, and municipal infrastructure. The analysis shows that resilience cannot be assessed solely by the volume of resources mobilized or the scale of physical reconstruction. Rather, it depends on the ability of territories to preserve, adapt, and rapidly restore critical socio-economic functions under external shocks. On this basis, seven interrelated spatial and structural regulatory dominants are substantiated: territorially differentiated and adaptive regulation; structural diversification of regional and local economies; activation of endogenous potential and value chains; polycentric organization of socio-economic space; development of demographically adaptive housing and basic service infrastructure; ensuring the safety and environmental suitability of territories together with resilient life-support systems; and restoration of spatial integration and functional connectivity. The article proposes differentiating regional policy instruments according to the functional type of territory and its actual socio-economic trajectory, strengthening the outcome orientation of public investment, adapting financial and housing support to the actual population distribution, and coordinating regional and intermunicipal investment decisions. The proposed approach shifts the focus of public regulation from reproducing pre-war spatial proportions to adapting regional development policy to the new geography of population, economic activity, risks, and functional relations. Policy effectiveness should therefore be evaluated through outcomes for people, including productive employment and income, housing affordability, access to basic services, the safety of the living environment, and continuity and recoverability of critical territorial functions.

Keywords:

spatial and structural transformations, spatial development, regional development, resilience, quality of life, territorial inequality, regional policy, public investment

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