Methodology for assessing the territory development in the context of sustainability

Abstract

Contemporary conditions of socio-economic uncertainty hinder the progressive sustainable development of territories, that requires the improvement of methodological tools for mitigating external factors and continuing the implementation of sustainable development concepts in rural areas. Despite the complexity of the development of socio-economic processes, rural areas are a guarantor of the country's food security. Rural areas are ready to actively implement sustainable development programs by integrating efforts together with state support, therefore they are the object of this study. The article examines in detail the role and place of rural areas in achieving sustainable development outcomes, summarizes the conditions that have a negative impact on socio-economic transformations at the territorial level. Additionally, the ways to improve methodological tools are suggested which allow assessing the territory development, and based on the findings, adjust the program of territory functioning in the context of sustainability. It is known that by implementing and achieving the objectives of sustainable development, the territory can reach a new level of socio-economic transformation and meet the goals in terms of economic stability, high life quality of the population, environmental and social stability. The following methodological techniques are applied in the study: various methods of information analysis (horizontal and vertical analysis), visual presentation of the material, economic and mathematical modeling, forecasting tools.