Melnyk I. Social and Geographical Bases of Development of Small and Medium Cities of the Luhansk Oblast.

In the work the theoretical basis of social and geographical research of small and medium cities taking into account modern situation has been deepened. The approaches to determine these categories of cities have been grounded, those to their scientific systematization generalized and the role and place of small and medium cities in territorial systems of settling determined. An analysis of tendencies of demographical, social, and economic development of small and medium cities under conditions of transformation period on the example of Luhansk oblast has been done. The labour market situation of these settlements has been considered and modern problems of their development determined. Social, economic, and ecological consequences of the restructuring of the coal mining industry have been evaluated. The complex functional and demographic typology of small and medium cities has been made. A program of development of small and medium cities of the Luhansk oblast has been worked out.