Development of Rural Areas in Ukraine in the Context of Decentralization: An Empirical Study

Nadiia Davydenko, Natalia Wasilewska, Svitlana Boiko and Mirosław Wasilewski
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Nadiia Davydenko: Department of Finance, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine
Natalia Wasilewska: Department of Economics and Finance, Jan Kochanowski University of Kielce, 25-001 Kielce, Poland
Svitlana Boiko: Department of Finance, National University of Food Technologies, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine
Mirosław Wasilewski: Department of Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences in Warsaw—SGGW, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-26

Abstract: Decentralization in Ukraine was actualized due to the inability of the local self-government system to satisfy the needs of the rural population in public services for the comprehensive development of a person, their self-realization, and the protection of their constitutional rights. The purpose of this empirical study is to examine development of rural areas in Ukraine in the context of decentralization. The methodology used was exploratory qualitative in nature and used a multiple case study, wherein data analysis were applied. We have found that the first result of decentralization in 2015–2018 is a slowdown in the decline of the proportion of the rural population, in the rate of decline of the available rural population, and the employment rate of the rural population. Our study refutes the hypothesis that the rural development targets, which were defined at the beginning of decentralization and fixed in the current legislation, have been achieved. Rural development targets have not been achieved, and economic modeling shows that there are no prospects for achieving them in the near future. The research results presented in the paper are of considerable importance for developing economic policy and the social development of rural areas, by addressing the needs of these rural areas.

Keywords: decentralization; rural areas; rural development; rural development index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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