The problems of structural changes in the economy of large and medium-sized cities of the Western region of Ukraine are investigated. Special attention is paid to the spatial localization of cities, the cultural and historical traditions of functioning of their economy, the branch specialization and institutional environment of influence on the formation of business climate and economic development as the main factors of structural transformation of urban economy. To compare the peculiarities of economy transformation in the selected for the study large and medium-sized cities of the Western region of Ukraine, the dynamics of change of individual comparable indicators of their development in 2010 - 2017 were analyzed. This primarily relates to such indicators as the volume of freight transportations, the total area of new residential buildings, the retail turnover of enterprises, the capital investments, as well as the export services and its ratio to the export of goods. Based on the analysis of the relevant data, the main tendencies of structural transformation of the economy of large and medium-sized cities of the Western region of Ukraine that were selected for the study have been identified. The mentioned structural transformation are confirmed to be occurring primarily in the direction of equalization of the branch proportions of economic development of cities, irrespective of their size. At the same time, there is a tendency to move from mono-functional to poly-functional specialization of the urban economy on the basis of accelerated growth of those types of economic activity, the potential of which has not been fully realized before. The research gave the basis for the conclusion that the size of the city is not the determinative factor for the development or decline of certain types of their economic activity. Instead, spatial localization and traditions of business culture as well as the characteristic features of the evolution of the institutional environment of the city and the quality of human capital have the primary importance. 

large and medium-sized cities, transformation of economy, branch specialization, structural changes, economic development 

The paper is devoted to the problems of rural territorial communities’ development in Ukraine in conditions of modern economic reforms, in particular in terms of priorities of decentralization policy and European integration. The nature of «rural territorial community» scientific category in its theoretical-methodological, historical and institutional-legislative senses is examined. Special attention is paid to legal controversies that create the field for emergence of institutional barriers for rural territorial communities’ development in Ukraine. The paper draws parallels between the principles of rural territorial communities’ development in the EU Member States and Ukraine, contributing to finding major factors of preventing the development of rural territorial communities’ development in our country in current conditions of conducting the administrative and territorial reform. In particular, the destructive impact of excessive decentralization in terms of making management decisions related to the forming of consolidated territorial communities is emphasized. It brings the institutional dysfunctions, in particular the institutional traps, and reduces the efficiency of the use of human and social capital in many rural settlements of Ukraine. Conceptual foundations and mechanisms of rural territorial communities’ development stimulation in the EU Member States are analyzed from the viewpoint of the perspective of their adaptation in Ukraine. The priority of principles of subsidiary, balanced development and multifunctional rural economy is emphasized in the context of enhancing the exploitation efficiency of rural human, financial and natural resources and improvement of the level of life of rural residents and social and economic development of rural territorial communities. The decisive role of institutional, financial, social and informational mechanisms in stimulation of rural territorial communities’ development and adaptation of EU conceptual foundations and social and economic priorities is revealed. On this basis the recommendations for state authorities and local governments of Ukraine on the use of EU experience in rural territorial communities’ development in current Ukrainian realities are suggested. In particular, we recommend securing the transfer to local governments of the sufficient amount of administrative and management liabilities and financial resources in the course of authorities’ decentralization policy, providing the improvement of financial, institutional, transport and informational infrastructure of rural territories’ development and guaranteeing the sustainability of rural development policy. 

rural territorial communities, European integration, spatial development, EU regional policy, decentralization of authorities 

The reasons and consequences of stagnation of rural territories’ social and economic development improvement in modern conditions are outlined. Systemic flaws regarding the maintenance of rural territories’ spatial planning are found and long-lasting tendency of territorial factor overlooking in their development is emphasized. The priority of taking into account the territorial factor for maintenance of rural territories’ balanced development and sufficiency of combined territorial communities is explained. Implementation of integrated combination of territorial, sectoral and managemental components of state regional policy in the sphere of rural territories at the level of administrative region is suggested. Complex medium term program of rural territories’ modernization in the administrative region is defined as the innovative instrument of rural territories’ management able to maintain implementation of the components of state regional policy on rural development at the level of administrative region with participation and in the interests of territorial communities. The basics of forming, contents and implementation mechanism of the program are presented. The program is directed at solution of the following major tasks: maintenance of differentiated approach to organizational – legal and social-economic regulation of rural territories’ complex development on the basis of application of spatial planning instruments; activation of personal participation and mobilization of rural communities’ resources for solution of local problems and maintenance of development perspectives; growth of rural population employment, strengthening of their motivation for entrepreneurship activity development in rural areas as one of the major conditions of population living standards’ improvement; creation of conditions for the development of non-agricultural types of economic activity on the basis of their local stimulation and increase of job places in villages, promotion of International Technical Assistance attraction for that end; assistance to competitive ability of local producers under the functioning of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement; maintenance of knowledge communication on European practices of rural development in order to improve social and economic wellbeing of rural territorial communities through conducting of educational and information activities; creation of ecologically sound conditions for living activity, preserving of environment and rational management of natural resources. The mechanism and advantages of priority introduction of planning and spatial justification of complex rural development along with implementation of the suggested program are outlined. 

rural territory, modernization of rural territories, modernization mechanisms, decentralization