SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KYIV METROPOLITAN REGION DEVELOPMENT: THE DIMENSIONS OF POLYCENTRICITY

Abstract

This study is aimed to develop a methodology for assessing the polycentricity of socio-economic development and diversification of the metropolitan region functions and identification of developed and prospective centers. The article evaluates the demographic-residential, industrial-logistics and innovation, service, administrative and management, and budget functions of the Kyiv metropolitan region. The study confirmed that the region is characterized by considerable spatial disparities in socioeconomic development. This is related to remarkable polycentricity and essential differences in the intensity and diversification of the main functions’ performance. Typification of the territorial units of the Kyiv metropolitan region by the level of socio-economic development and features of the diversification of the functions was carried out. Solving the problem is based on the development of a balanced and effective spatial organization of the Kyiv metropolitan region and the amplification of a hierarchical system of centers (poles) of development in the suburbs. The latter will perform a number of functions of the metropolis and balance the development of the entire metropolitan region driven by the wide range of suburbanization processes. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the identification of developed and prospective centers of the Kyiv metropolitan region, which is an important basis for developing a strategy for the post-war reconstruction of the territory. It contributes to the contemporary discourse by the development of a research methodology of a quantitative assessment of polycentricity in order to identify the developed and prospective centers of the metropolitan region.