A comparative analysis of regional and municipal management systems in Russia and Ukraine

The aim of this study is to develop new methodological approaches and justify the principles of regional and municipal management of socio-economic development of the regions of Russia and Ukraine. The novelty of the problem stems from the fact that, due to changes in the mechanism of management of spatial development of regions, creation of an efficient system of management is becoming the main prerequisite for the realization of economic and social reforms in the regions of Russia and Ukraine. Based on comparative analysis, the authors reveal various common and specific features of regional and municipal management in Russia and Ukraine, and opportunities to improve their efficiency. It is shown that both Russia and Ukraine are countries with large territories, and a variety of economic, geographic and living conditions that are in search of effective management models of spatial development. As a result of research, the following conclusions are made: in the context of the crisis in the socio-political and socio-economic management system in the post-socialist space, there is a need to develop new mechanisms of management of the state and its regions, and to create proper conditions for efficient interaction between regional and municipal authorities. The main guideline of modernization should be innovation in the system of management. At the regional level, the modernization should include the development of new principles and approaches to the management of socio-economic development of regions and municipalities. The complexity of modernizing management mechanism is that the traditional management of individual regional and municipal entities cannot create a competitive point of growth in each territory. The outcome of the situation is on the way of formation of the cluster approach to management, which aims to unite the interests of the various municipalities and provide efficient spatial development of a region. The solution to this problem can be achieved by concerted action of national and regional public authorities, local governments, non-governmental organizations and experts. Overall assessment of the whole set of measures to modernize the system of management in Russia and Ukraine and proposals describing the concept of economic reform at the regional level, leads to the conclusion that the modernization of the system of regional management in Russia and Ukraine should be incremental and assume a permanent replacement of inefficient elements in the economic mechanism. Based on the priorities of regional economic and social development, it is necessary to justify the powers, specific rights, duties and functions of regional and local government; develop a system of regional planning and forecasting and regulations to ensure high reliability and quality of management; streamline the organizational structure of management in accordance with the terms of tasks, and improve management efficiency by abolishing multilink and unsustainable costs.