Середні міста Західного регіону України у внутрішньообласних екістичних та економічних співвідношеннях

Abstract

Medium cities are an important part of settlement system at the national and regional levels. They ensure the proportionality of regional development, connectivity of hierarchical types of settlements, the normal functioning of the service sector. In Western region of Ukraine was formed eight medium cities, but their placement is the most irregular among all regions of Ukraine. The scientific literature traditionally focuses on the importance of administrative, organizational, socio-economic functions of medium cities. The real situation may be estimated by the analysis of place and role of medium cities in regional settlement and economic relations on the basis of actual statistical information. The realized analysis showed that medium cities play an important role in the settlement network and economy of the western regions of Ukraine. Adding 9.9% of urban settlements in regions where they are located, which is close to the national average, they concentrate 9.3% of the population and 18.4% of the urban population what with a low level of urbanization shows a significant demographic potential. All medium cities are cities of regional importance, what shows their economic role in the regions, six of them are district centers, performing important administrative functions. Medium cities in the region differ in economic development, although all of them are economic centers at regional level. The greatest role in the regional economy play Novovolynsk, Mukacheve and Kalush, particular Novovolynsk that leads in the region with many indicators, surpassing even the regional center Lutsk. Most medium cities with one or more of analyzed indicators exceeding average regional level. Lowest rates in regional relations show Drohobych, Stryi and Chervonograd due to the most developed settlement network in the Lviv region of the studied area, as well as a placement of strong regional center Lviv. Despite the small number and irregular placement, the existence of medium cities is a necessary condition for normal social and economic functioning at the regional level, which makes rational planning of their further development an important regional task.