Development Of Agglomerations Research Articles

Necessity and Urgency Study on Promoting Regional Economic and Social Integration in China: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration

Urban agglomerations mirror the highest level of spatial organization in urban development. They are characterized by one or more mega-cities serving as central hubs within a delineated region, upheld by three or more major cities. With advanced transportation, communication, and other facilities as the foundation, these agglomerations establish close spatial and economic ties, achieving a high degree of urbanization and integration. Against the backdrop of global and anti-globalization forces leading to shifts in foreign situations, coupled with domestic economic downturns resulting from changes in pandemic policies, the imperative to form an integrated regional economic society has become increasingly prominent. This study takes the construction and development of the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) as an example, examining the necessity and urgency of promoting regional economic and social integration through the proportional changes in the three major industries of each city. As the earliest and representative urban agglomeration in national planning, the YRDUA serves as an illustrative model. The findings indicate that applying the experiences of regional economic and social integration in the YRDUA to the entire country is representative and offers valuable insights.

The development of polysubcentric network in the context of metropolitanization: evidence from Poland

ABSTRACT This study examines the patterns of suburban development in major Polish agglomerations with the aim of uncovering uneven suburban growth and the consequent emergence of a polycentric arrangement against the backdrop of metropolitanization. Out of 17 agglomerations, six representative ones were selected for in-depth analysis. Uneven growth has delineated hierarchical levels in five of the six chosen agglomerations, laying the foundation for polycentric development. However, the disparities between cores and suburban municipalities are so substantial that a more precise approach lies in considering the development based on multiple sub-centres (Polysubcentric), rather than polycentric. These sub-centres exhibit an upswing in population and a relative share compared to the core’s size, alongside an increase in inbound to outbound commuters (and consequently, an augmented economic function). They also evolve into important nodes for commuting. The study classifies sub-centres into two types based on achieved functional shifts (SUB-C, SUB-R). The differences among agglomerations underscore the distinctive nature of each local environment. In certain cases, sub-central networks develop successfully, although the process is selective and intertwined with geographical location, economic factors, and the condition and capacity of transport infrastructure.

The Largest Urban Agglomerations of the Ural Federal District: Comparative Analysis

The article is devoted to the study of urban agglomeration processes in the territory of the Ural Federal District. The purpose of the article is to assess the development of the largest urban agglomerations of the Ural Federal District. The authors included in the sample three urban agglomerations, the core of which are the capital centers of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation located in the Urals: Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Tyumen urban agglomerations. The research methods are fundamental research methods (abstraction and generalization, systematic approach, structural and functional method, comparative analysis method, etc.), as well as technical analysis methods (classical analysis, indicator method, etc.). The authors rely on statistics provided by Rosstat, official sites of the administrations of the regions and cities under study, as well as Yandex maps. The most developed from an agglomeration point of view is the Yekaterinburg urban agglomeration, followed by the Chelyabinsk agglomeration, and, finally, the Tyumen agglomeration is in third place. In general, the analysis of urban agglomeration processes demonstrated that the latter are very unevenly developed in the territory of the Ural Federal District, which indicates an insufficient connection between the space adjacent to the border between Europe and Asia. The calculation of indicators showed a «problem field» of agglomeration processes characteristic of the Ural Federal District space: for the Yekaterinburg agglomeration there is a significant spread in the population of a large city and small settlements in terms of population, which indicates uneven resettlement; in the Chelyabinsk region — a decrease in population growth of the entire agglomeration; in the Tyumen agglomeration — a low value of the centralization coefficient of the «core» of the agglomeration, the agglomeration coefficient, the agglomeration index, the population development index. The authors made recommendations for the authorities of the macroregion aimed at strengthening the space occupying a middle position on the Eurasian continent.

НЕКОТОРЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ РАЗВИТИЯ РАССЕЛЕНИЯ РЕГИОНОВ СЕВЕРО-ЗАПАДНОГО ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОГО ОКРУГА

The article analyzes some aspects of the settlement pattern and urbanization development of Northwestern Federal District regions. The most important settlement pattern and urbanization development trends and special feature from the author’s point of viewtrends in these regions are described; the article addresses to some problems and perspectives of the settlement pattern and urban agglomerations development. The author submits the revealed regularities of the settlement pattern development of these regions. Some judgments may be controversial.

Theoretical principles of the study of agglomeration factors of the investment attractiveness of communities

Understanding the specifics of agglomeration factors is not just an academic exercise, but a crucial step towards forming an attractive investment climate in communities. In the face of globalization and intensified interregional competition, this understanding is paramount. Theoretical comprehension of these processes is not a mere intellectual pursuit, but a necessary tool to identify and analyze the mechanisms through which agglomeration influences investment activity and the economic efficiency of communities. This, in turn, will provide practical recommendations for optimizing management decisions at the local and regional levels of government. The importance of this research is further underscored by the need for local communities to adapt to changing external conditions, identify potential growth points, and form development strategies based on internal innovative resources and agglomeration advantages. The aim of this article is to analyze the theoretical foundations of studying the agglomeration factors of the investment attractiveness of territorial communities, with a clear focus on its practical implications. The article analyzes the theoretical aspects of the interaction between agglomeration phenomena and investment activity, considering the impact of scale, level of concentration, and specialization of production processes on regional economic development. Theoretical approaches to analyzing agglomeration factors are proposed, investigating their impact on economic development and the ability to mobilize investment resources within a specific territorial unit. The development of infrastructure capabilities, initiation of innovative clusters, and support for entrepreneurial activities serve as the main directions for enhancing the investment attractiveness of agglomerations. However, it's important to note that the process of creating urban agglomerations is not a simple task. It's a long-term endeavor that provokes debates and represents a significant level of complexity. It is determined that thanks to the agglomeration effect, regional development becomes more logical, focusing on a variety of economic activities in territories optimal for their implementation. Analyzing the level of development of urban agglomerations allows for a more targeted approach to planning their further development strategies, but it's a task that requires a deep understanding of the complex dynamics at play. Keywords: investment attractiveness, socio-economic development, agglomerations, agglomeration factors, territorial communities.

Research on the motivation system and path simulation of collaborative agglomeration of Chinese culture and tourism industries based on system dynamics.

In the context of industrial integration, the collaborative agglomeration of the cultural and tourism industries is an important way to promote their integrated development and achieve both industrial transformation and upgrading. This article first analyzes the dynamics of the cultural and tourism industries as a collaborative agglomeration. A system dynamics model is then presented which represents the perspective and reveals the mechanics of this partnership between the two industries. Finally, the authors use this model to simulate the path made possible by their collaborative agglomeration. The results show: (1) From the perspective of industrial policy, the promotion and guidance function of industrial policy elements still needs strengthening in the collaborative development of China's cultural and tourism industries. (2) From the perspective of industrial economy, the promotion function of industrial economic factors still needs improving in the collaborative agglomeration and development of China's cultural and tourism industries. (3) From the perspective of the joint effect of industrial policy and economy, the collaborative effect of industrial policies and economic factors is more conducive to promoting the collaborative agglomeration development of China's cultural and tourism industries. The research in this article can provide theoretical support and policy recommendations for promoting coordinated development of China's cultural and tourism industries and can also provide the experience needed to serve as a reference for the joint development of tourism and culture in other similar regions.

The influence of knowledge-intensive service industry agglomeration in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration on regional economy

Knowledge-intensive service industry has become an important part of social economy, which not only promotes the innovation of modern service industry, but also promotes the upgrading and transformation of manufacturing industry. The agglomeration of knowledge-intensive service industry is not only the inevitable result of economic growth, but also the premise of sustained economic growth. Moreover, China's national economy is transforming from an industrialized economy to a service-oriented and knowledge-based economy, and the importance of knowledge-intensive service industry is increasing day by day. This paper constructs a theoretical framework of the influence of population agglomeration on the economic development of urban agglomerations. The article holds that population agglomeration promotes the economic development of urban agglomerations through the upgrading of industrial structure and the promotion of human capital. In the future, we need to focus on the similarities and differences between population agglomeration and economic development of urban agglomerations in central China, explore the factors of economic development of urban agglomerations, and provide reasonable suggestions for the government to formulate relevant economic policies. This paper, from an innovative research perspective, based on the perspective of population agglomeration, studies the path of its role in regional economic development, which can make up for this defect to some extent. Moreover, the research object has been innovated and the research method has been improved. On the basis of the above, the panel data of the Yangtze River Delta from 2012 to 2021 is selected as the research sample, the location entropy index is taken as the explanatory variable, the regional gross domestic product (GDP) is taken as the explanatory variable, and the rationality of economic theory and the significance of econometric test are considered. Finally, the data are analyzed and tested by regression. The empirical analysis of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration proves the importance of knowledge-intensive service industry agglomeration to regional economic development. Finally, based on the contribution of knowledge-intensive service industry agglomeration to regional economy, the development of knowledge-intensive service industry and the promotion of industrial agglomeration are studied.

Estimation of Economic Spillover Effects under the Hierarchical Structure of Urban Agglomeration Based on Time-Series Night-Time Lights: A Case Study of the Pearl River Delta, China

Urban agglomerations are becoming increasingly important in driving economic development in China. Accurate representation of the economic development status and spillover effects of cities within an urban agglomeration is the foundation of and an effective approach for promoting the coordinated development of that agglomeration. However, current studies of economic spillovers tend to focus on urban agglomerations as a whole, and there is a lack of scrutiny and validation of research data. Therefore, this study proposes a framework for detecting economic spillover effects within an urban agglomeration based on a prolonged night-time light dataset. Firstly, we explored the most suitable night-time light index to characterize the economic status. Then, we used this index to construct the economic network and hierarchical structure of the urban agglomeration. Finally, we explored the heterogeneity of spillover effects under the hierarchical structure. The results of a case study in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomeration show that (1) the total night-time light in built-up areas (BNTL) has the highest Pearson correlation coefficient with GDP, which is 0.82; (2) there is an obvious hierarchical structure within the PRD; (3) there are significant and sustained economic spillover effects among the core cities, with Guangzhou–Foshan and Shenzhen–Dongguan having more obvious spillover effects; and (4) the economic spillover effects within the three metropolitan areas have different characteristics. The Guangzhou–Foshan–Zhaoqing metropolitan area is closely linked, to apparent differences in the pace of spillover effects. The Shenzhen–Dongguan–Huizhou metropolitan area has strong close linkages, with strong synchronization of spillover effects. The Zhuhai–Zhongshan–Jiangmen metropolitan area has not yet formed a stable synergistic development relationship. Overall, the framework can effectively reveal the hierarchical structure and different characteristics of economic spillovers within urban agglomerations, which can provide a scientific reference for policy making related to the coordinated development of such agglomerations.

A study of the coupling between the digital economy and regional economic resilience: Evidence from China.

The contemporary economic landscape has placed significant emphasis on the digital economy and economic resilience, progressively emerging as pivotal focal points for examining the high-quality development of economic systems. However, there remains to be more research on several critical topics. This includes the characteristics of coordinated development between the digital economy and economic resilience systems and their interdependence. In response, this study formulates a comprehensive evaluative framework for digital economy development and regional economic resilience, grounded in the intrinsic mechanisms of both domains. It conducts a thorough evaluation employing entropy weight-TOPSIS methodology. Additionally, leveraging coupling theory, a coordination model's coupling degree serves as the foundational framework for scrutinizing the symbiotic advancement of the digital economy and economic resilience, along with their interdependent nature. The research sample comprises data from 31 provinces and municipalities in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) from 2011 to 2020. Spatial autocorrelation and Geodetector methodologies probe the evolutionary traits and driving factors underlying the coordinated developmental relationship between these two systems. The findings indicate an upward trajectory in China's annual comprehensive development index for digital economy development (from 0.233 to 0.458) and regional economic resilience (from 0.393 to 0.497). The coupling and coordination between the two systems, measured from 0.504 in 2011 to 0.658 in 2020, demonstrate a consistent growth pattern with an average annual increase of 3.01%. These levels exhibit continuous improvement, with comprehensive economic zones manifesting hierarchical results within the coupling range of [0.5, 0.8]. Notably, agglomeration development evinces a pronounced spatial positive correlation, while local Moran scattering points are primarily concentrated in localized migration leaps. Factors such as foreign-funded enterprises' total import and export volume, online payment capability, and fiber-optic cable length greatly influence the coupling relationship. In contrast, other variables exhibit a lower and more fluctuating degree of weighted impact. This study establishes a foundation for the synergistic and effective development of the digital economy and economic resilience within the Chinese region. Simultaneously, it offers valuable insights for research of related subjects in global contexts.

Study on the Mechanism and Path of Synergistic Development of Manufacturing and Service Industries in the Greater Bay Area of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao

The paper explores the level of synergistic agglomeration of the advanced manufacturing industry and logistics service industry in the Greater Bay Area from 2015 to 2018 through the spatial Gini coefficient and industrial agglomeration index. The results of the study show that the level of agglomeration and specialization of individual industries in some manufacturing industries in the Greater Bay Area is relatively high, and individual industries in the logistics industry have formed a certain scale of agglomeration, but there is still a certain gap compared with the manufacturing industry, and the level of agglomeration needs to be improved. Finally, it puts forward suggestions to promote the development of a synergistic agglomeration of the advanced manufacturing industry and logistics industry in the Greater Bay Area.

Effect of Planning and Construction of Intercity Railways on the Economic Development of the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration: An Analysis Based on the Spatial Durbin Model

Efficient transportation is essential for regional economic development. Currently, the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration is accelerating the construction of intercity railways in the region to strengthen the links between cities. To provide a more detailed account, this study examined data spanning the years 2010–2021 across nine key cities in the Pearl River Delta. Employing a spatial Durbin model, we sought to uncover specific spatial patterns associated with intercity railways, particularly their pronounced impact on neighboring cities. Our quantitative findings, derived from the spatial Durbin model, revealed a statistically significant positive contribution of intercity railways to overall regional development. Contrary to initial concerns, the results indicate that intercity railways contribute significantly without exacerbating existing imbalances. However, according to the decomposition analysis of effects, most coefficients of the explanatory variables with a direct effect were found to be positive and significant, indicating their positive impact, while those with an indirect effect were found to be nonsignificant, suggesting that the effect of planning and construction of intercity railways on the economic development of the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration is currently at a stage of factor concentration. In conclusion, our study emphasizes the need for prioritizing regional connections in intercity railway construction. This strategy can facilitate production factor flow and foster the proactive development of transportation infrastructure, thereby ensuring a balanced and sustainable regional economic growth trajectory.

Exploring the Spatial Correlation Network and Influencing Factors of Green Economic Development in Typical Urban Agglomerations in China: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta

Exploring the Spatial Correlation Network and Influencing Factors of Green Economic Development in Typical Urban Agglomerations in China: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta

The impact of innovation capability on green development in China's urban agglomerations

As the main form of new urbanization in China, the effect and mechanism of urban agglomerations' innovation capability on green development are still unclear. Based on the panel data from 197 prefecture-level cities across 19 urban agglomerations in China, we explore the impact of the innovation capability of urban agglomerations on green development from 2008 to 2021. It is found that the innovation capability of urban agglomerations can significantly improve the level of green development, and talent agglomeration and industrial structure upgrading can positively adjust the impact of the innovation ability of urban agglomerations on green development. Heterogeneity results reveal that the impact of innovation capacity on green development in urban agglomerations is different in regional distribution, policy orientation, innovation capacity intensity, and whether it is cross-provincial. Finally, this study suggests that differentiated policies should be adopted to optimize the role of urban agglomeration innovation capability in promoting green development.

Research on the synergistic effects of urbanization and ecological environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration based on the Haken model

The development of urbanization and the protection of the ecological environment are important aspects of sustainable development in urban agglomerations; thus, their coordination and synergy are crucial. Scholars in both China and other countries have conducted extensive research on the relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment from the perspective of coordinated development. However, there is a lack of research on the synergistic effects of urbanization and the ecological environment. Taking the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration as an example, this study uses the Haken model to analyze the synergistic evolution mechanism, development patterns, and future trends of urbanization and the ecological environment. This study draws the following conclusions: (1) while a synergistic development mechanism has been established between urbanization and the ecological environment, the current system is still in a stage of low-level synergy, and the control system’s parameter for the direction and path of evolution is urbanization. (2) From 2001 to 2020, the level of synergistic development between urbanization and the ecological environment was relatively low, mainly moving from low-level synergy to medium–low-level synergy to medium-level synergy. (3) There is a significant spatial disparity in the levels of synergistic development, for which the leading region centers on Chengdu and Chongqing in the northwest and southeast, respectively, and the lagging region comprises the eastern part of the urban agglomeration, mainly represented by Dazhou, Kaizhou, and Yunyang. (4) The future trend of synergistic development between urbanization and the ecological environment in the Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration is promising but requires increased infrastructure construction in mountainous urban areas, enhanced cooperation and circulation in transportation, logistics, information and other aspects, and balanced improvements in the level of synergistic development between urbanization and the ecological environment. The study of the synergistic development effect of urbanization and the ecological environment in urban agglomerations is of great significance for reducing the negative impact of urbanization on the ecological environment, increasing the positive interaction between the two, and promoting sustainable development in urban agglomerations.

Основы формирования и управления агломерациями в сельских территориях России

The article focuses on the basics of the formation and management of agglomerations in rural areas of Russia. The author’s formulation of the concept of «agglomeration in rural areas» is given. Criteria have been identified for the purpose of determining agglomerations in rural areas, the main of which include the population, the presence of a center or core of the agglomeration, the infrastructural community of municipalities in the agglomeration, the presence of agricultural production in the agglomeration, the presence of sufficiently dense buildings. Based on the criteria presented, the classification of agglomerations in rural areas is given. A model of the mechanism for managing the functioning and development of agglomerations in rural areas is presented. The main aspects of the implementation of the mechanism for managing the functioning and development of agglomerations in rural areas are substantiated, and a logical and graphical model of the phased implementation of the agglomeration management system in rural areas is presented.

Оценка количества малых и средних предприятий в границах городов и агломераций: применение методов машинного обучения к данным России

Introduction: the development of agglomerations, which, as research shows, are becoming productivity growth poles, is one of the priorities in the spatial development policy in Russia. Despite numerous discussions, the term “urban agglomeration” is currently absent in federal legislation, but it is widely used in the regulatory framework at other levels of government. This leads to a lack of coordinated, accurate, and up-to-date information on the size and structure of agglomerations, thus bringing forward the need to formulate a well-based approach to identify their economic and geographical boundaries. Objectives: developing an approach to identify the boundaries of agglomerations in Russia, considering the spatial distribution of economic activity. Methods: machine learning, statistical analysis. The use of these methods makes it possible to identify the boundaries of agglomeration with high accuracy using open data on the height of the urban area. Results: the article presents the results of spatial clustering algorithm (DBSCAN) testing on residential development data in Russia; a list of “sustainable municipalities clusters” defining the agglomerations boundaries has been identified and estimates have been made for the number and revenue of firms and SMEs within the largest cities and agglomerations boundaries defined both analytically and formally in regulatory documents. Using the example of individual regions and average data for Russia, it has been shown that the number of firms (total and those registered as SME) within agglomerations can be underestimated by more than one-third and total revenues – by almost 60 %. Conclusions: considering sustainable municipalities clusters can improve the accuracy of agglomeration effects and business activity estimates and contribute to the formation of more accurate government support measures.

Assessing agglomeration processes in Russian second-tier urban agglomerations

<abstract> <p>One of Russia's strategic objectives is to identify and create conditions to ensure accelerated development of promising centers of economic growth in the country's regions. In practice, most of these centers are cities of different levels of hierarchy, which create or have the potential to create urban agglomerations on their basis. At the same time, at present, most attention is paid to the study of the largest and large urban agglomerations not only in domestic, but also in the world science; while the real prerequisites and processes of second-tier agglomerations development are studied rather poorly. In this regard, the purpose of this paper was to analyze and identify the specifics of agglomeration processes in several Russian second-tier agglomerations. To achieve this purpose, we used a wide range of both general scientific (analysis, synthesis, structural-functional, etc.) and applied economic and mathematical methods (index method, correlation analysis, calculation of the Theil index). The main conclusions of the research was that the key trend of these agglomerations' development was the increasing concentration of an already high share of regional production, investment, and population against the background of growing intra-regional heterogeneity. At the same time, agglomeration processes themselves spread only to the territory closest to the core, which is manifested in the convergence of growth rates of these territories in terms of key socio-economic indicators. All this proves the underdevelopment of the satellite zone of second-tier agglomerations and the hypertrophied development of the core: weak interconnectedness of their reproductive processes, which may be a threat to the development of such agglomerations as integrated socio-economic systems and growth centers of regional and macro-regional significance in the future. The authors showed that a number of northern/arctic agglomerations (Surgut, Arkhangelsk) have a significant development potential due to not only the formed economic base of their satellite zone, but also socio-economic connectivity along the line "core-satellite zone". The scientific novelty of the presented research lies in the development of approaches, substantiation of methodological tools for assessing agglomeration processes, and identification of the specifics of these processes in Russian second-tier agglomerations on the basis of its testing.</p> </abstract>

Впровадження концепції перехоплюючих паркінгів в міське середовище

The implementation of intercept parking concepts in urban environments is crucial for improving transportation infrastructure and enhancing residents' quality of life. The city of Rivne, while compact, faces challenges of traffic congestion and air pollution due to its limited area and high population density. One of the key measures to address these issues is the implementation of parking systems, specifically intercept parking. Intercept parking involves creating parking zones outside the city center to reduce the flow of cars in central areas. This can significantly reduce traffic congestion and promote the use of public transportation, thereby improving the city's transportation system. For example, research has shown that effectively utilizing intercept parking can reduce the number of cars entering the city center and encourage the use of public transport. However, successful implementation of intercept parking requires a comprehensive approach and consideration of various aspects, including the needs of the local population, characteristics of the transportation infrastructure, and potential implications for city development and road safety. The article presents research and data collection on the capacity of inbound car flows in various parts of the intercept parking network aimed at evaluating the load on the road network of the city of Rivne during peak periods, taking into account the city's level of motorization. The study analyzed inbound traffic flows at six key points on the main arterial streets of the city. The research results identified a significant load on Rivne's road network from inbound traffic flows, negatively impacting the city's mobility. The only viable solution to this problem is the implementation of an automated intercept parking network both in the suburbs and in the central part of the city. Intercept parking represents a crucial step towards optimizing urban space and improving residents' quality of life by reducing traffic congestion in cities and fostering the development of sustainable urban environments. Implementing intercept parking concepts proves to be a significant step in urban space improvement and enhancing residents' quality of life. The practical application of this concept can contribute to further development and optimization of urban agglomerations, as it promotes efficient use of parking spaces and the development of safe and balanced urban environments.

Проблемы и подходы к выявлению границ агломераций Севера и Арктики России

Urban agglomerations are currently considered by both scientists and practitioners of public administration. However, the issue of identifying the actual boundaries and creating tools for the development of so-called “second” – and “third-tier” agglomerations, with cores in large and medium-sized cities, remains understudied. Nevertheless, such agglomerations can become development drivers for territories outside the settlement area, primarily in the North and the Arctic. The article aims to determine the composition and boundaries of northern and Arctic agglomerations of Russia considering their specificity. The study presents the authors’ methodological approach to the delimitation of agglomerations combining traditional (isochrones of transport accessibility, gravitational methods) and modern tools (GIS technologies, big data analytics of social networks). As a result, the composition and boundaries of three northern/Arctic agglomerations with cores in Arkhangelsk, Surgut, Norilsk were identified, their specific characteristics were highlighted: the actual borders often do not meet strict traditional criteria of delimitation, particularly, the 1.5-hour isochrone of transport accessibility of the core city due to the weakened effect of geographical proximity; according to the development criterion of the settlement system, two of them (Surgut, Arkhangelsk) can be attributed to agglomerations; despite the underdeveloped settlement framework (the development coefficient is less than 2.7) and a growing share of the core city population in the total population, satellite areas increasingly become economic centres of gravity of agglomerations. The study substantiated the expediency of applying a flexible approach to the delimitation of borders and selecting tools for the development of urban agglomerations, taking into account formation factors and their economic and geographical location, specifically in the North and non-North projections. Further research will involve an in-depth assessment of localisation and urbanisation effects of the studied agglomerations.

The effects of internal displacement on the host border regions (case study of the Lviv Region of Ukraine)

The study objective is to analyse the effect of the flow of internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the development of the Lviv Oblast – the largest region of Ukraine bordering on the EU. The article was based on available statistical data (most statistical data in Ukraine under martial law is not made public), data from sociological research of international organisations, and other official public sources of information. The study results suggest that the Lviv Oblast has become the main Ukrainian transit region on the route of refugees from Ukraine across the border, as well as one of the main oblasts accepting IDPs. At least 5 million people have passed the oblast in transit, and the number of IDPs reached its maximum in the period May-June 2022. Most of the people arrived in the city of Lviv, other large cities, as well as recreation and tourist centres. IDPs have had a positive effect on the sectors of housing construction and tourism in the oblast, and contributed to an increase in the budget income of separate territorial hromadas. Approximately 230 enterprises have also been relocated to the oblast. Most IDPs are planning or expect to return to their former place of residence, although with each month of war duration, the share of people integrating with local communities and planning to permanently remain in the territory of the Lviv Oblast increases. In spatial terms, the flow of IDPs considerably exceeded the level of urbanisation of the oblast, and accelerated the development of the Lviv urban agglomeration. In the future perspective it may contribute to an increase in territorial disproportions between large cities in the oblast, with better developed hromadas around Lviv, mountain and pre-montane towns on the one hand, and depressive hromadas in the east and south-east of the oblast on the other.