ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНИХ ПЕРЕДУМОВ РОЗВИТКУ ДОНЕЦЬКОЇ ТА ЛУГАНСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТЕЙ З УРАХУВАННЯМ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ МАЛОГО БІЗНЕСУ

Abstract

The study of socio-economic dimensions of the preconditions for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions allowed to distinguish between positive and negative directions of development. Thus, the positive prerequisites for the development of regions include: agricultural lands of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are characterized by high natural fertility; the mineral resource base of the regions is one of the most developed in terms of types and volumes of use of mineral resources in Ukraine, among which almost 50 % contains fuel and energy raw materials; an important place in the economy of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is occupied by industry; retail trade turnover of Donetsk and Luhansk regions from 2018-2020 begins to recover. It should also be noted that the Donetsk region is active in foreign economic activity, which has a significant impact on the development of the region, and the balance of foreign trade balance of the Donetsk region in 2014-2020 is positive. The positive trend of Luhansk region is that it has a significant share of small and medium business in the volume of sold products (goods, services). Negative prerequisites for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are: the presence of armed conflict in the regions; loss of a significant part of industrial potential and reduction of indicators of socio-economic development of Donetsk and Luhansk regions; in 2020 lockdown and business interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic; there are logistical problems in the transportation of goods; in 2020, the level of exports is declining, most industrial enterprises engaged in foreign economic activity have significantly reduced production for export; destruction of key transport and logistics links, complication of railway logistics, closure of airspace, as a result of increased load on roads from heavy, large, freight transport, in the Donetsk region there is a destruction of road surface. Also, the negative trends of Donetsk region include the lowest share of small and medium business in the volume of sold products (goods, services). The positive preconditions for the development of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts need support in the direction of strengthening these tendencies. Negative preconditions for the development of oblasts require significant changes and financial investments for radical changes in the direction of improving the situation. Thus, the intensification of small business in the Donetsk region and support for the further development of small business in the Luhansk region is a prerequisite for economic growth in these areas in the future.