Border areas in adverse socio-economic conditions: identification and development problems

Abstract

The war in Eastern Ukraine resulted in the creation of a new type of problem regions - border areas in adverse conditions. It is a specific type of territory, the configuration of which may change under the influence of the political situation. The main feature of such areas is the need for an additional level of security. The allocation of border areas into a separate group requires in-depth theoretical and empirical research. The purpose of the article is to identify border areas in adverse conditions and outline the main problems of their development. The following methods were used for the study: statistical, historical, abstract and logical, systematic and comparative analysis. In the article, the border areas in adverse conditions are allocated into a separate group of problem regions of Ukraine and their intragroup structuring is carried out according to certain criteria: the degree of security of the territories and their involvement in hostilities, the type of border with the aggressor state (land, sea), the activity and nature of the conflict with the aggressor state, or the state with which the relationships require a sufficient level of security. The analysis of the main indicators of social and economic development of border areas in adverse conditions is carried out. The problems of territorial development inherent in all subgroups of border areas in adverse conditions (remoteness from economic development centers; increased migration; threat of military conflicts; low investment attractiveness) and specific problems within each subgroup are highlighted. The task of regional policy is to support the development of border areas in adverse conditions. The mechanisms for regulating the development of such areas should be developed separately for each of the selected subgroups. These mechanisms should help to strengthen the economic potential of these territories and state support for their social and economic development, as well as stimulate entrepreneurial activity in border areas, etc.