Economic autonomy of regions in the context of the modernization processes revitalization

Abstract

The problem of regional differentiation remains crucial for Ukrainian economy, especially in the context of a need for modernization processes’ acceleration. In present conditions, a significance of transferring drivers of the country's socio-economic development (including to the regional level) is growing. Such tasks cause a need of increasing the level of individual regions’ economic autonomy, that will ensure the formation of the necessary resources to intensify modernization transformations.On the basis of systematization of scientific approaches to the research of modern regional economy’s problems an expediency of theoretical substantiation of concept and components of regions’ economic autonomy was demonstrated. Accordingly, the main objective of the paper is to form the theoretical foundation and to develop methodological provisions for the study of the region economic independence level.A region economic independence vastly depends on: self-financing level, self-sufficiency level, sustainability development and possibility of achieving a state of self-development, etc.The study of region economic independence in terms of such components as: resource independence, budgetary autonomy, personnel and financial independence, industrial independence, scientific and technical (innovation) independence, has allowed to present it as a complex, multidimensional phenomenon. The set of indicators has been formed by all components. On their ground was offered to conduct an analytical study of the region's economic autonomy level. Presented set of indicators have different nature, and therefore for their processing it is necessary to use a standard procedure of normalization, e.i., bringing to a comparable form.In the conditions of resource constraints and an insolvency of solution all existing problems of regional development, an autonomy monitoring in the context of species and in general will allow to determine critical areas of certain regions’ development.The calculations, presented in the paper, allow to determine indicators of economic independence of regions as a whole and in terms of components. In general, Ukrainian regions in terms of economic independence can be divided into three groups: with a relatively high level of economic independence; with an average level of economic independence; with a low level of economic independence.The main condition of ensuring regions economic independence in modern conditions, and hence, of formation resources for modernization, should become tools and mechanisms, the main among of which have to be: a concentration of gross value added, created in the region; a formation of a highly skilled workforce and its retention in the region; the raise of a state, regional and municipal officials’ level of qualification; carrying out the reform of the public finance system and ensuring effective decentralization, others.