RURAL TERRITORIES AND THEIR PLACE IN THE SYSTEM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE AND REGIONS

Abstract

Introduction. The study of rural areas is an important mission in the development of socio-economic systems of the state and its territories. Transformational changes that have taken place in the process of reforming the national economy and as a result of changes in the administrative-territorial structure of the country require the determination of the location of each component of its territories. Of particular importance is the study of rural areas, where the agricultural sector has a place in the vector of development. The latter determines the standard of living of the population of rural areas and forms a significant share and role in the system of socio-economic development of the state and its regions. The purpose of this article is to research of theoretical and methodological bases of formation of rural territories and their place in the system of social and economic development of the state and regions. Results. Studies have shown that the primary link, the center of rural areas is a rural settlement. Therefore, in our opinion, the key criteria for determining the rural area are administrative-territorial and self-governing. Thus, a rural area is one that is within the jurisdiction of territorial communities of rural (urban) settlements and includes agricultural and non-agricultural lands. This approach has a normative basis – the Law of Ukraine "On Local Self-Government in Ukraine" and the Law of Ukraine "On Voluntary Association of Territorial Communities". Conclusions. The importance of rural areas in the socio-economic development of the country is not limited to social factors. After all, despite the high potential for the development of non-agricultural activities in the future, currently rural areas are the center of agricultural production, which is a strategic sector of the national economy. The agrarian economy performs the most important function in the system of ensuring socio-economic stability of rural development of the state and its regions. Keywords: rural areas, economic development, agrarian reform, agriculture, transport infrastructure.