COMMERCIAL SUBURBANIZATION IN KYIV METROPOLITAN REGION: UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT AND POLYCENTRICITY

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to assess the uneven development of commercial suburbanization of Kyiv. The paper sets two research objectives - to develop a methodology for estimating the scale of commercial suburbanization in the absence / unavailability of official statistics and to analyze the dynamics of the spread of commercial suburbanization around Kyiv, as well as changes in the levels of its concentration and diversification. This paper attempts to assess the extent of commercial suburbanization, and analyzes the changes in concentration and diversification of retail and service chains around Kyiv. In contrast to the classic (stage) model of urbanization, since the 1990s, several aspects (stages) of urbanization have been observed in the post-Soviet space – both intensive suburbanization (especially around metropolitan centres and major cities) and gentrification of the inner cities. Here, a specific situation is formed, characterized by the selective development of some suburban settlements, varying degrees of manifestation and mutual influence of residential and commercial functions. Commercial suburbanization is one of the most pronounced processes that change suburban area and the entire Kyiv metropolitan region. Given the lack and unreliability of the official statistics on commercial suburbanization development, it is appropriate to study spatial diffusion of retail and service chains. The analysis of concentration and diversification dynamics of 50 network services in Kyiv metropolitan region by settlements in 2014-2019 are carried out in this paper. The novelty of the study is to develop a methodology for assessing the scale of commercial suburbanization in the absence / unavailability of official statistics and identify features of the spread of commercial suburbanization in the metropolitan region of Kyiv. The study confirmed the heterogeneity and polycentricity of the commercial suburbanization development in Kyiv metropolitan region. Analysis of the dynamics of commercial suburbanization has revealed a number of trends.