Evolution of economic theories of sustainable rural development

The purpose of the article is to generalize theoretical approaches to defining the essence of balanced rural development through the prism of the evolution of theories of spatial and inclusive development and the concept of sustainable eco-socioeconomic growth. Research methods. The methodological basis of the research was general scientific and economic research methods, scientific works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on sustainable rural development and the evolution of scientific thought regarding this problem. In particular, the research used the following methods: abstract-logical (when proposing a hypothesis, making generalizations, formulating conclusions and proposals); analysis and synthesis (in the study of the evolution of theories of spatial and inclusive development and the concept of sustainable eco-socio-economic growth); induction and deduction (to study the essence of the category of balanced rural development). Research results. The evolution of the main economic theories of sustainable rural development, which, developing gradually according to the laws of dialectics, inherited the scientific developments and predictions of scientists of several generations, is revealed. Scientific novelty. Scientific approaches to the interpretation of the category "sustainable development of rural areas" were further developed, which was proposed to be understood as a process of improving the level and quality of life of the rural population, which, in turn, contributes to a variety of types of agricultural and non-agricultural activities, productive employment, diversification of incomes of rural households and filling budgets of local communities, social protection of residents, modern infrastructural development of the settlement network, preservation and enhancement of soil fertility, protection of landscapes and biological diversity. Practical significance. The study of the theories of spatial economics, inclusive growth and sustainable development can become in the future a scientific and methodological basis for the balanced (sustainable) development of rural areas, which will contribute to the restoration of human-centered socio-economic and ecological equilibrium in conditions of destabilizing internal and external factors. Tabl.: 1. Refs.: 48.