Theoretical foundations of the center-periphery interactions determination in the conditions of socio-economic differentiation of regional development
Lowering the level of spatial socio-economic disparities of territorial development and ensuring the high living standards for population and business environment development are the main key tasks in terms of reforming the administrative and territorial regulation and financial decentralization in Ukraine. This raises the issue of the center and periphery interactions among the dominant ones in the conditions of the socio-economic space development of the country and requires delineation of the influence zones of the centers and activating features of adaptive and stimulating roles, which they perform as "growth poles" and innovative shifts generators in territorial development. The methodological apparatus of the research consists of the general scientific methods for the development of theoretical and methodological foundations of the central and peripheral interactions in the region and the system approach for identification of social benefits of conceptual priorities in the center and periphery interactions in conditions of administrative and financial decentralization. The scientific approaches to the definition of categories "center-periphery" are investigated. The need to outline the dual nature of center-periphery interactions as a phenomenon is emphasized. The comparative characteristics of the center, the semi-periphery, and the periphery are presented. The essence of the center-peripheral interactions in the region is defined as a process of direct or indirect mutual influence of the center and the periphery in the conditions of spatial inequality and socio-economic differentiation of regional development. The classification of the center-periphery interactions in the territorial dimension is proposed. Further research suggests focusing on the substantiation of theoretical and methodological foundations of center and periphery interactions and levels of such interaction in the region in terms of administrative and financial decentralization.