Administrative-territorial Reform Research Articles

Необходимость пересмотра численности сотрудников региональных администраций в условиях укрупнения общин в РА / The need to review the number of employees of regional administrations in the context of the consolidation of communities in the RA

In recent years, administrative-territorial reforms and processes of community consolidation have been actively organized in the Republic of Armenia, which has led to a reduction in the number of communities. In such conditions, it became necessary to discuss issues of optimizing the number of regional government bodies. The article discussed the need to review the number of employees of regional administrations in connection with a significant reduction in the number of communities in the regions.

FEATURES OF TERRITORY MANAGEMENT DURING MARITAL STATE IN UKRAINE

The article discusses the current problems of territory management in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been going on for two years. A description of the real state of territorial communities is offered, their problems caused by the war are outlined. A cluster model of the distribution of territorial communities depending on the situation during the war is presented. Possible ways of solving the main problems arising in the management of territories during martial law are determined. The article emphasizes that Russia's war against Ukraine, which has been going on for two years, has become the sharpest and most dangerous test of Ukrainian society since independence. Virtually all state and public institutions and organizations, government and executive institutions underwent significant changes in form and content. This especially applies to territorial communities, which, despite their short existence, have actually become the centers of the reconstruction of Ukrainian civil society on the lines of martial law. Territorial communities shouldered the main burden of volunteer assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense, reception and accommodation of forced migrants, provision of humanitarian aid, educational, medical, legal, communal services, organization of business and employment, as well as mobilization work. The article notes that under the conditions of martial law, the forms and content of territory management activities, in particular municipal management bodies, have changed: military-civilian administrations have appeared in regions and former districts. During the two years of the war, the functions and boundaries of the administrative activities of local self-government bodies were agreed upon, taking into account the challenges that were caused by the full-scale aggression of Russia. The article notes that the burden of the war had the greatest impact on the stability and vitality of territorial communities. Despite the fact that today it is generally possible to positively evaluate the administrative-territorial reform that was carried out on the eve of the war, territorial communities are in unequal conditions of life, have different possibilities of functioning, and require management decisions that are adequate to the real situation. The article emphasizes that the primary task at the moment is to improve relations between the central government and local self-government bodies, taking into account the actual military, economic, demographic, social, political, and humanitarian situation. We are talking about a significant expansion of the powers of territorial communities in all spheres of social life. It is impossible to rule in wartime by peaceful methods. This is all the more important because the administrative and territorial reform depends on the results at the front.

The Effect of Enlargement on the Indicators of Fiscal Decentralization of RA Communities

Fiscal decentralization at the local level is aimed at ensuring financial autonomy to strengthen the role of local self-government bodies. In fiscal decentralization, it is also important to clarify what powers are given to local governments so that they can determine their spending priorities and have some capacity to expand local revenue sources. The administrative-territorial reforms of RA, in particular, the enlargement of communities, is a new challenge from the point of view of the development and independence of the local self-government system of RA, but to have a well-established local self-government system, it is very important to increase both the absolute and relative indicators of the communities' incomes. The results of the analysis carried out in the communities of Armenia for 10 years show that the communities have a trend of steady growth of their incomes, which, however, is not always accompanied by an increase in the share of their incomes in the total incomes. The latter is because, despite the RA administrative-territorial reforms, the communities continue to be significantly dependent on the state budget. With the emphasis on the importance of assessing the impact of enlargement in communities after the RA administrative-territorial reforms, there is a need to introduce a methodology for calculating several indicators of fiscal decentralization in communities, which will take into account not only indicators at the local level but also other macroeconomic indicators characterizing the country's economic situation, such as GDP.

Agroecological problems of territorial communities in the Carpathian region and ways to solve them

The article examines the theoretical and practical issues of ecological situation problems, which are connected with the implementation of administrativeterritorial reform and decentralization reform in the country, which is accompanied by the unification of territorial communities and the organization of land territory, which consists in the social relations of landowners and land users, the assessment of real land use structures and optimal use of land resources. It is suggested that the united territorial communities adjust the ratio between destabilizing and stabilizing agricultural lands and bring the use of land resources closer to ecologically balanced development of nature management. The reasons for the problems of ecological situations are revealed and, after analyzing in detail the relationship between destabilizing and stabilizing agricultural lands, ways to solve them are proposed. It has been determined that reducing air pollution requires the joint efforts of governments, industry, the public and every individual. Due to the global nature of the problem, international cooperation and sharing of best practices also play a key role in finding effective solutions. Solutions to environmental problems are proposed, including reducing emissions, implementing and strictly enforcing environmental standards for industrial enterprises and vehicles, improving the efficiency of energy use and switching to cleaner fuels; development of public transport: encouraging the use of public transport, cycle paths and pedestrian zones to reduce the number of private cars on the roads; support for clean technologies; investing in the development and implementation of clean technologies, such as renewable energy sources (solar and wind energy), which reduce dependence on fossil fuels: urban greening; expanding green space in urban areas to absorb carbon and reduce air temperature. Trees and plants also help filter pollutants from the air.

Ustawa równoważąca. Doświadczenia albańskie w dziedzinie relacji samorządu terytorialnego z rządem

The European Union’s promotion of the multilevel governance approach redefines the relationships between supranational, national and local governments. As countries like Albania undergo adaptations in the accession process, finding a balance between local and national government relations becomes crucial. The review aims to explore the complex interplay of governance levels in Albania, drawing insightful comparisons with successful cases in Europe, and offering valuable lessons for the policymaking process. To foster greater cooperation between national and subnational levels, it is imperative to define roles and responsibilities clearly, ensure proper financing while national government takes a more strategic role. In Albania, facilitating meaningful interaction can be achieved through the Consultative Council for local and central government, alongside associations of local authorities, though it necessitates legal changes and commitment from local governments. The Albanian Law on Local Self-Government, established in 2015, coincided with a new administrative-territorial reform in the same year, presenting various challenges, particularly for local governments. Through this article, we aim to present scientific research and concrete results concerning the Albanian experience of local government relations with the central government, while providing a comparative analysis with other European countries. Additionally, specific recommendations are proposed to strengthen government interrelations, given the high priority of the EU accession process in the country’s development agenda.

The geoecological analysis of Lake Tuchne (Volyn Polissia) and assessment of sapropel reserves in it


 
 
 The administrative-territorial reform in Ukraine, which began in 2015, opened up prospects for newly created territorial communities to determine the resource potential of local territories under control and develop strategies for balanced nature use and their progressive development. The lakes, which have a significant potential for sapropel resources, take an important place in the Polissia region of Ukraine. Given the above, there is a need for a comprehensive study of specific lakes and justification of recommendations for the rational use and protection of their water and sapropel resources. The object of our research is Lake Tuchne, Volyn Polissia. The catchment area of Lake Tuchne is 10.05 km2, and the reservoir itself is 0.39 km2. A bathymetric model of the lake was built with a depth interval of 0.5 m. The vegetation index (NDVI) for the reservoir over the past five years has been varying from -0.53 (12/02/2021) to +0.48 (07/15/2021). The research presents a stratigraphic section of the reservoir sediments. The area of accumulated sapropel is 20.5 hectares, the average thickness is 4.46 m, and the maximum is 10.0 m. The ash content of sapropel varies within 17.5-37.5% (on dry substance). The content of Fe2O3 in the core ranges from 2.53% to 7.26%. The distribution of CaO compounds in the samples ranges from 2.09 to 8.12%. The CO2 content varies from 1.97 to 9.72%. The concentration of Р2О5 in sapropel samples is 0.19-0.53%. The distribution of S in sapropel deposits ranges from 0.23 to 1.09%. The pH (salt extract) distribution in the core samples varies from moderately alkaline (7.63) to close to neutral – 5.97. A digital landscape map of the lake was constructed with the selection of the littoral and sublittoral-profundal aqua sub-areas and five types of aquafacies. A landscape-metric analysis of the natural and aquatic complex of the lake was carried out. The potential of water resources of Tuchne lake is 827.0 thousand m3. Sapropel reserves of category A are 914,000 m3, and based on a conditional 60.0% humidity, they are 155,000 tons. The species composition of sapropel is represented by zoogenic, organo-ferrous, and organo-limestone species. The total stock of sapropel in the lake basin is 52.5% of its volume. The reservoir is promising for extracting sapropel due to its quality characteristics and hydro-technical prerequisites for operation. Mined sapropel can be used in agriculture, medicine, recreation, etc. Implementing this task will improve the geoecological state of the lake and the quality of its water resources.
 
 

INTERMUNICIPAL COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITIES IN THE POST-WAR PERIOD

The article is devoted to the problems of inter-municipal cooperation, practical foreign experience of administrative-territorial reform. The experience of European countries shows that local self-government bodies are endowed with broad powers in the field of spatial development. The aspect of the delegation of powers of European countries, the peculiarities of the functioning of the municipalities of France, the Netherlands, and the communes of Spain are considered. Attention is paid to the statistics of concluded agreements between communities from 2016 to 2023, the issue of concluding cooperation agreements is highlighted. The author examines the financial capacity of communities in the economic crisis, taking into account the changes to the Budget Code of Ukraine regarding the creation of the Rural Development Fund. Advantages for communities that participate in cooperation due to pooling of resources and delegation of authority are analyzed. The main risks that stand in the way of fruitful cooperation are identified: the insufficient level of competence of the heads of territorial communities; low legal education of representatives of local self-government bodies, which in turn is an obstacle when choosing a form of cooperation and legal drafting of agreements; budget conflicts of communities, which thereby create unreliable conditions for more capable communities when pooling resources with less capable communities. An assessment of the potential of community cooperation, indicators related to security issues, and an increase in the population share due to the influx of temporarily displaced persons during the war period was provided. Based on the best domestic and foreign practices, recommendations for communities were formed, which will be useful for further inter-municipal cooperation.

Factor Analysis of Socio-Economic Development of Enlarged Communities in the RA 80

The administrative territorial reforms implemented in the Republic of Armenia (RA) are new challenges, which lead to the need of developing and implementing new tools aimed at local socio-economic development of communities. At this stage of the RA administrative territorial reforms, it is very important to discuss the positive or negative impact of enlargement, therefore, the assessment of the current situation by highlighting the problems, and pointing out the main ways of effectively using the available resources, can shortly contribute to increasing the efficiency of community management. Even though the enlarged communities in the RA have certain similarities in terms of expenditure directions and sources of income, we should not forget that each community also has its characteristics of socio-economic development and a unique potential for development. Within the framework of this article, based on the factor analysis of socio-economic indicators of several enlarged communities of the RA, it becomes clear that the agricultural sector is significantly separated from the production activities in Ararat, Parakar, Noyemberyan and Gavar communities, and the agricultural sector in Alagyaz and Tsaghkahovit communities does not have an impact on the local level of employment, which allows us to assume that the potential and resources in the field of agriculture are not used effectively, which in turn is due to the lack of the minimum funds necessary for the development of agriculture.

DEMOGRAPHIC POTENTIAL OF ODESA REGION: REGIONAL FEATURES

Problem Statement and Purpose. The article highlights the issue of the demographic situation and demographic potential of the Odesa region as a leading component of its development and the development of relevant regional strategies and programs. Regional features have been established and an intra-regional analysis of the demographic potential in the conditions of administrative-territorial reform has been carried out. The prerequisites of geodemographic processes in the region were clarified and their assessment was carried out taking into account the geographical basis and subregional specificity of the multicultural and polyethnic environment. The results of the study call for a revision of the demographic policy in the region within the framework of decentralization reforms, the successful completion of which is complicated by the state of war. The purpose of the study is to analyze the demographic potential of the Odesa region in the conditions of decentralization and martial law. The object of the study is demographic processes in the Odesa region. The subject of the study is the analysis of the demographic situation and demographic potential in the Odesa region in conditions of uncertainty caused by the decentralization reform and changes in the administrative-territorial system, complicated by the state of war. Data & Methods. When writing the article, traditional general scientific research methods were used. Statistical materials of the demographic situation at the national and regional levels were used for data analysis, and statistical and specific demographic methods were used for their subject processing. Public management methods were used to analyze the demographic potential in order to make appropriate management decisions. When processing data for the obtained results, software tools of office packages (in particular, Word, Excel) were used. When analyzing and writing the proposed publication, official statistical reporting data was used. Results. Undoubtedly, after the end of the war, in order to restore Ukraine and the region in particular, in order to improve the demographic potential of the Odesa region, it is necessary to adopt the necessary regional programs aimed at increasing the birth rate, creating new jobs, improving the quality of life, reducing the mortality rate, and supporting young families. The implementation of these programs requires a systematic approach and balanced decisions on the part of regional and central authorities.

"New Regionalism" and Its Implementation in Ukrainian Legislation: The Terminology and the Political Implications

This paper investigates the terminology associated with "New regionalism" and its integration into Ukrainian legislation, analyzing its political and administrative implications. "New regionalism" is a contemporary administrative-territorial reform, with a focus on the principle of subsidiarity, which minimizes central authority intervention in local affairs. While not explicitly present in its regulations, certain subsidiarity elements are part of Ukrainian law. The study explores the adoption and implementation of "New regionalism" principles and terminology within the country's legal discourse. The second aim of the study was to examine how "New regionalism" could potentially influence the political dynamics and administrative structures, particularly in the context of decentralization efforts. By employing systematic and comparative methodologies alongside principles of dialectical analysis, the study offers insights into the evolving landscape of Ukrainian political and administrative terminology alongside its structures, which might play a crucial role in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

DIRECTIONS OF EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT IN TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES

The article reveals the main content of the administrative-territorial reform as a key element of the evolution of social relations. Decentralization of power in Ukraine creates an opportunity for effective implementation of institutional changes. It was found that the functioning of territorial communities requires a serious modernization of their education system. It was found that the main tasks of the continuation of the decentralization reform in the post-war period will be reforming in the field of education, strengthening the level of responsibility of local selfgovernment bodies for the decisions made, harmonious distribution of resources of territorial communities, mutual support and assistance in the restoration of destroyed infrastructure, prioritization of the human factor and social values . It was determined that the State Regional Development Strategy for 2021-2027, adopted in 2020, is a key document for the development of territorial communities focused on a dignified human life in a united, decentralized, competitive and democratic Ukraine, the purpose of which can be achieved on the basis of strategic goals. It has been proven that Ukraine has a number of competitive advantages to fulfill the tasks of the Strategy, including the level of human capital development in the country. The works of domestic scientists who are engaged in researching the process of human capital development in the dynamics of modern changes in all spheres of life are analyzed. It was revealed that potential opportunities for the development of human capital decreased during the period of full-scale war. Ukraine suffered both direct and indirect losses of human capital, the causes of which were: forced migration, killing of civilians, deaths of soldiers, non-payment of wages by employees, destruction of educational infrastructure, failure to provide educational services in full to all participants of the educational process. It is justified that in order to restore of human capital in the post-war period, measures should be aimed at creating a favorable environment for the return of Ukrainian citizens to their homeland and building an effective system for the formation and development of human capital within the country, which can be directly influenced by the development of education in territorial communities. It was concluded that the factors that will affect the achievement of strategic goals in the field of education are the clear definition of specific directions and tasks of the development of the education system in territorial communities.

Подготовка и переподготовка кадров в системе советских органов власти в Нижне-Волжском крае на первом этапе социалистической реконструкции (1928–1932 гг.)

Introduction. The success of the large-scale transformations carried out in the country at the first stage of socialist reconstruction largely depended on the solution of the personnel issue in the process of systematic training of qualified personnel both for the economic sphere and for the Soviet authorities. Methods and materials. The study was based on traditional methods (historical-comparative, historical-systemic, genetic) and principles (objectivity, historicism, consistency) of historical research. Most of the documents involved in the research process were unpublished archival sources from the State Regional Archive of the Volgograd Region and the Center for Documentation of the Recent History of the Volgograd Region. Analysis. The research is aimed at identifying the problems of training and retraining personnel of Soviet authorities in the Lower Volga Region. Results. The first stage of socialist reconstruction, the administrative-territorial reform, and the creation of the Lower Volga Region brought the problem of personnel training into the category of key problems, the success of solving which was directly linked to the implementation of major changes in the political, economic, and social spheres during the first five-year plan. The problem of training and retraining personnel of the Soviet authorities in the region had to be solved against the background of the systemic “processing” personnel, the low level of education of applicants and working Soviet managers, the lack of a systematic accounting the personnel link until 1929 and, as a result, high rates of personnel rotation, especially at the level of the district and village, which determined the main directions of activity of the regional authorities in this matter – the need to intensify efforts to introduce accounting, accurately identify “bottlenecks” in the process of training and retraining of personnel, systematic planning of educational activities for the training and retraining of personnel.

THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM OF THE KREMENETS DISTRICT AND FEATURES OF TRANSFORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF DECENTRALIZATION

The author analyzes past and current publications of scholars who have worked on the study of settlement in its methodological, theoretical and practical aspects, before the reform of the administrative-territorial structure in Ukraine and the research that took place during and after its implementation. The analysis of features of composition of the Ternopil regional system of settlement is carried out to realization of reform of decentralization.
 The inter-district inwardly regional, district and shrub systems of settlement of the Ternopil area are described that can be clearly traced to realization of administrative-territorial reform their composition and amount are indicated and also the centers of the systems of settlement of all levels are marked.
 The author analyzes the impact of the decentralization reform on the reformatting of the levels of the settlement system and its transformation. It is noted that as a result of such changes, inter-district systems have been transformed into district systems, and new systems of settlement of the next level with centers in the administrative centers of communities have emerged within the former districts.
 The detailed analysis of the changes and transformations that have taken place within the Ternopil regional system of settlement is carried out.
 The article describes and analyzes the newly formed settlement system of Kremenets district, which was formed on the basis of the northern districts of Тernopil region.
 Administrative composition of newly formed Kremenets district is analyzed, in relation to distribution of territories of former administrative districts between newly formed territorial communities and including to them of territory of former village soviets and inhabited items.
 The composition of each of the new communities is analyzed by the number of amalgamated councils, the quantity of settlements, amount of cities, villages and settlements of municipal type in their composition.
 The place of each community in the district is determined by the area and population within the district, as well as in comparison with all other communities in the Ternopil region that are part of other districts.
 The analysis of population settlement was carried out in the context of territorial communities of Kremenets district, by displaying the number and location of urban and rural population, as well as the population density of territorial communities.
 By mapping the transport network and overlaying it with the location of Kremenets district settlements, indicating their administrative status, the author has determined its place in the structure of the settlement framework of the region, as well as identified the local supporting frame of settlement that is characteristic of Kremenets district and the main cores of this framework.
 The level of transport accessibility of the hundred largest settlements of each community, which were the centers of the councils, was analyzed in relation to the administrative center of Kremenets district, the city of Kremenets, by drawing up a map. The most and least favorably located settlements of each community were identified.
 Keywords: Ternopil region, Kremenets district, decentralization, administrative structure, settlement system, territorial community, transport accessibility

PLACE MARKETING IN PLANNING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Research background: Municipalities, as part of the public sector, have to use various methods to achieve their goals, including the ones that are indispensable for successful entrepreneurship. Local authorities plan, manage and control events of public importance. These activities must be in line with national policies and accepted in their development documents. It is logical for municipalities to formulate and communicate their strategies and spatial development perspectives to the public. The improvement of a sustainable development strategy is especially important because the administrative-territorial reform was completed in 2021. After this latest reform, the boundaries of districts, management and distribution of funding were changed significantly. Today several towns and communities have developed their marketing strategies, and each municipality has public relations or development departments that take care of the image of the area.Purpose of the article: The aim of this study is to analyse the importance of local marketing in the current sustainable development strategies of individual districts. Tasks of the research are to describe the essence of local marketing, to study the peculiarities of strategic planning in local governments, to analyse the current sustainable development strategies of Cesis, Valmiera and Smiltene counties in connection with local marketing and to draw conclusions on the research results.Methods: The work uses a monographic research method, analysis of scientific literature, analysis of regulatory enactments, a logically constructive method - for the formation of judgments and analysis of results, a method of synthesis - to combine elements into a single system.Findings Value added: As a result of the study, the importance and impact of place marketing on the regional planning process was identified.

Features of the Development of the Public Administration System in Ukraine

The purpose of the study is to consider and analyze the trends in the development of public administration in Ukraine under the conditions of modern globalization challenges and transformational processes. Research methodology is based on the use of methods of analysis and synthesis, the method of observation, methods of induction and deduction, methods of comparison and analogy, graphic, logical methods. The methodological basis of the study was the methods of analysis, synthesis and observation, which provided an opportunity to actualize the main problems of the development of the public administration system today. The scientific novelty of the obtained results lies in the substantiated main directions of changes and transformational processes of the domestic system of public administration under the influence of civilizational changes and globalization challenges. The article analyzes modern trends in the development of public administration in Ukraine. The following trends in public administration are singled out and analyzed: step-by-step improvement of the model of public administration;formation of effective organization and activities of executive authorities at various levels; reforming local self-government and creating self-sufficient territorial communities; the process of redistribution and demarcation of competencies and powers of public authorities;reforming the territorial organization of power based on the principles of economic expediency and social necessity;reforming and modernization of civil service and service in local self-government bodies, etc.Further ways of improving the system of public administration in Ukraine are proposed. Conclusions. Further ways of improving the system of public administration in Ukraine should be based on the step-by-step process of completing administrative and administrative-territorial reforms, introducing electronic governance into the activities of public administration bodies, further completing the constitutional reform in terms of decentralization of power, which involves the transfer of real powers to local self-government bodies, reformpublic administration systems based on comprehensive consideration of the experience of functioning of public administration systems in foreign countries Key words: public administration, public power, democratization of power, development trends, transformational processes.

NUTS ЯК ПРІОРИТЕТНА КОНЦЕПЦІЯ РОЗВИТКУ ТЕРИТОРІАЛЬНИХ ОДИНИЦЬ УКРАЇНИ

This research paper examines the significance of regional statistics within the institutional framework for integrated development. Focusing on Ukraine, the author compares its regional statistics standards with those of Europe, highlighting the importance of aligning with EU standards to facilitate the implementation of common policies and procedures at the regional level. By analyzing the current methodological inconsistencies between Ukrainian regional statistics and NUTS standards, particularly in light of the country's administrative-territorial reform, the paper identifies key challenges in territorial development. These challenges include the need for industry-specific data to inform strategic specialization (S3), the importance of statistical criteria for identifying problem areas, the assessment of disparities in district and regional development, and the establishment of internal mechanisms for state bodies to effec

SPATIAL PECULIARITIES OF THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM OF DNIPROPETROVSK REGION AS OF 01.01.2022

Problem Statement and Purpose. The purpose of the study: to identify the state and spatial differences in the settlement system of the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region on the eve of Russian military aggression. This will enable to understand the main socio-geographical realities that have developed by the beginning of the aggression, for the further restoration of the system of settlement of the territory in the post-war period, taking into account the peculiarities and problems that have taken place. Data &Methods. The study used methods for calculating quantitative and relative indicators of the state of the regional settlement system and a comparative analysis of the assessment results. Results. For Dnipropetrovsk region as a whole, and for each of its administrative districts separately, the population density, the average population density ofsettlements, the average density of settlements, the average distance between them, the index of leadership of the administrative centers of districts, the level of urbanization of the territory by the share of the urban population and by thehierarchical method of O. Tereshchenko have been calculated. According to these indicators, spatial differences in the system of settlement of the administrative districts of the region have been revealed. The systems of urban settlements in the administrative districts of the region are characterized by significant differentiation. This is especially evident when using a hierarchical approach to determine the level of urbanization. The regional systems of rural settlements in the region have smoother differences in terms of similar indicators in comparison with the systems of urban settlement. In general, the settlement systems of the administrative districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region had significant differences in key indicators, such as the area of the territory, the number and density of the population, the number of settlements. At the same time, in terms of the density of settlements and the average distance between them, the differences are less vivid. However, it should be pointed that the vivid differentiation of settlement systems cannot be considered a positive consequence of the administrative-territorial reform.

ՀՀ ԽՈՇՈՐԱՑՎԱԾ ՀԱՄԱՅՆՔՆԵՐԻ ԵԿԱՄՈՒՏՆԵՐԻ ԱՊԱԿԵՆՏՐՈՆԱՑՄԱՆ ԵՎ ԾԱԽՍԵՐԻ ՕՊՏԻՄԱԼ ԿԱՌԱՎԱՐՄԱՆ ՄԱԿԱՐԴԱԿԻ ԳՆԱՀԱՏՈՒՄԸ (ՀՀ ԿՈՏԱՅՔԻ ՄԱՐԶԻ ՉԱՐԵՆՑԱՎԱՆ ՀԱՄԱՅՆՔԻ ՕՐԻՆԱԿՈՎ)/ ASSESSMENT OF THE LEVEL OF REVENUE DECENTRALIZATION AND OPTIMAL COST MANAGEMENT OF LARGE COMMUNITIES OF RA (IN THE EXAMPLE OF CHARENTSAVAN COMMUNITY OF KOTAIK REGION, RA)/ОЦЕНКА УРОВНЯ ДЕЦЕНТРАЛИЗАЦИИ ДОХОДОВ И ОПТИМАЛЬНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ЗАТРАТАМИ КРУПНЫХ НАСЕЛЕНИЙ РА (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ОБЩИНЫ ЧАРЕНЦАВАН КОТАЙКСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ РА)

The research subject is the assessment of the impact of RA administrative territorial reforms from the point of view of decentralization of community income and optimal cost management. The object of the research is the revenues and costs of Charentsavan community of Kotayk marz, RA. The objective of the research is to evaluate the impact of enlargement on the level of revenue decentralization and optimal cost management of Charentsavan community by calculating the change in the share of own revenue in total revenue and the changes in the expenditure on the municipality’s staff (before and after enlargement). The main tasks of the research are to analyze the main indicators of revenue decentralization of the Charentsavan community for 2012-2022, their absolute and relative values and to give a summary assessment, as well as to study the change of salary funds and positions of the staff of the Charentsavan municipality in the conditions of the enlargement of the communities, to present proposals for the improvement of the sector. The main results of the research in the conditions of the current challenges of the expansion of communities aim to contribute to the assessment of their impact on the dynamics of the increase/decrease of own revenue in the revenue of a specific community, as well as to the evaluation of the optimization level of cost management in the cut before and after the enlargement, as well as to the further implementation of similar analyses. The novelty of the research, in contrast to other articles, lies in the fact that in the co-examination of the administrative territorial reforms implemented in RA since 2015, almost no analysis was carried out that would be aimed at the study of income and expenses on the example of a specific community, before and after the enlargement.

CHANGES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE AND POPULATION OF ZAKARPATTIA DURING THE SOVIET PERIOD (1946–1991)

It is noted that Zakarpattia, as a separate administrative-territorial unit consisting of Uzhan, Berez, Ugochan, and Maramoros counties, was created in 1919–1920 as part of Czechoslovakia. It was found that as a result of the administrative-territorial reform in 1926, the zhupas were united in the so-called a large zhupa, and 14 districts were created. In 1928, due to consolidation, the number of districts was reduced to 12. In 1938–1939, the territory returned to Hungary, which carried out several administrative-territorial reforms. It is claimed that in the autumn of 1944, it became obvious that the territory of Zakarpattia would fall under the influence of the Soviet Empire. In present study particular attention is paid to the fact that the Soviet military administration returned the administrative-territorial division of the Czechoslovak period. It is noted that in 1946, the region officially became part of the Soviet Union, so the formation of the administrative-territorial system continued in order for the region to organically fit in with other regions of the Ukrainian SSR. It was found that the most significant administrative transformations took place from 1946 to 1969. According to the administrative division in 1946, the region consisted of 15 administrative units: 2 cities of regional subordination and 13 districts. It was established that in 1962, 8 districts were liquidated in Zakarpattia, but later the disintegration of districts was carried out and as a result of this reorganization 11 districts were created in 1965, and 2 more in 1966. As a result of the administrative-territorial reform of the Ukrainian SSR in 1965–1966, Zakarpattia again consisted of 13 districts and 2 cities of the regional order. In 1967–1969 there was the formation of new village councils, their merger or liquidation, the transfer of village council centres to other settlements, a change in the administrative subordination of village councils, the inclusion of villages in the strip of urban-type cities and towns. It can be concluded that, after repeated administrative transformations, the number of settlements in Zakarpattia Oblast increased from 512 in 1946 to 603 in 1969. In the period from 1969 to 1991 significant changes did not occurred. Keywords: Ukraine, Zakarpattia, administrative-territorial units, Soviet Union.

Coal, Oil, and Iron Ore: Industrial Planning and Formation of Concepts of Urals in the Economic Thought of USSR (1920s — 1930s)

The article examines the formation of ideas about the industrial geography of the Urals in the work of Soviet planners, economists and administrators of the 1920—1930s. The authors demonstrate that a number of early projects of economic development from the 1920s was promoting the administrative-territorial isolation, relying mostly on the industrial core of the region that emerged before the revolution, while allowing moderate cooperation with other regions. However, by the beginning of the 1930s, these projects were replaced by the concept of the Ural-Kuznetsk Combinate, which called for the integration of the Urals and Western Siberia and for a forced tempo of industrial construction. The consequence of the gigantism of such an ambitious concept was its territorial erosion, since local economists were using Ural-Kuzbass as a conceptual framework to propose and justify competing projects of forced industrial development of their respective districts. The paper shows different models of this erosion: 1) the emergence of new centers of power within Ural-Kuzbass on the basis of intensive industrial development with the subsequent formation of new administrative units (Chelyabinsk); 2) the inclusion of new territories as a result of ongoing geological discoveries followed by the emergence of novel industrial identity of these areas (Orsk); 3) withdrawal from Ural-Kuzbass in case of regions which were chosen to focus upon the industries which were marginal for the Combinate (Bashkiria). The authors make a conclusion about the key role of the concept of the Ural-Kuzbass in the development of the industrial identity of territories that were not previously considered as “Ural mining area”, and about the importance of economic factors in the formation of new ideas about the structure of the USSR which in turn influenced the administrative-territorial reforms of the country.