The Methodological Challenges Concerning the Smart Specialization of Ukrainian Regions

Анотація

The article addresses a study of methodological challenges concerning smart specialization of the regions of Ukraine. Within the terms of the preparation of the article, the theoretical and methodological foundations of smart specialization are examined, the discussion provisions of its methodology are distinguished, and its empirical evaluation is provided. Smart specialization is the direction of research in the field of regional economy, the attention of which is on entrepreneurial initiative and synergy of efforts of business and authorities. This approach focuses on practical entrepreneurial efforts without reference to macroeconomic policy. According to the results of the study, it is defined that, though a positive perception of smart specialization prevails amid domestic scholars, the discussed approach to regional development contains a number of methodological challenges, among which is worth noting the unreasonable use of the chosen methodology for calculating indicators to determine innovative activities and preserve the extant specialization of the regions of Ukraine, which remains raw material mainly. According to the results of the empirical analysis of the relationship between the share of regions in the structure of the cost of sold products of key sectors of the economy (industry, agriculture, retail trade) and disposable income per capita – one of the major indicators of socio-economic development – a lack of a strong positive correlation between the region’s specialization in agriculture and the level of income of the population is identified. Instead, a strong positive correlation is present between the volume of industrial products and retail trade in terms of sold articles and the level of disposable income. It is concluded that too much expectations from the impact of agricultural development on the economy of both the country as a whole and individual regions are unreasonable: the intersectoral synergistic effect of agricultural development is inferior to the effect of industrial development, especially when the raw material nature of domestic agricultural production be taken into account. Attention is focused on the discussion nature of the ratio of «sectoral vs. regional development»: the methodology for developing a regional development strategy proposed by European experts requires detailed consideration, extensive debate and careful use in the development of a regional development strategy in Ukraine.

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