In the dissertation work the scientific-theoretical, methodical and applied principles of formation of integration structures in the timber industry complex of the region are generalized.
It is substantiated that restructuring of the subjects of the timber industry complex is one of the defining directions of its reformation. This process is due to the presence of several problems related to deep structural and industrial disproportions (a significant fragmentation of the individual sectors of the complex and, accordingly, the lack of possibility to use the scale effect of production, inconsistency of production capacities of adjacent technological stages, etc.), the need for transition to the new markets, to the corporate management, etc.
The object of the research is the processes of formation of integration structures as institutional forms of organization of relationship among the subjects of the timber industry complex of the region.
The subject of the study is theoretical and methodological provisions and applied aspects of the formation and development of integration structures in the timber industry complex in order to increase the competitiveness of the regional economy.
One of the ways of reforming the regional timber industry complex is to create an integration structure of the holding type. Timber industry holding is a complex system with a single control center and a closed process of timber production, which unites enterprises that consistently participate in harvesting, processing, production and sale of finished wood products at different stages of a single technological cycle, so they are interconnected by material, financial and information flows.
Analysis of the current state of functioning of the timber industry complex in the Transcarpathian region suggests a positive dynamic of the main indicators of its activity. At the same time, the complex as a whole and its sectors, in particular, are characterized by the high fragmentation, which does not allow to fully using the existing economic potential. In such conditions, the creation of vertical integration structures at the regional level allows to realize benefits, which are manifested through reduced costs due to the scale effect of production, the reduction of transaction costs in the market exchange process, the availability of sufficient resources for effective policy in the field of innovation and development, etc.
The methodological approach to the evaluation of the effectiveness of formation of integration structures for decision-makers, based on the theory of transaction costs is developed. At the same time, at the micro-level, this approach allows the management of an individual enterprise to make optimal managerial decisions on the feasibility of integration and to predict the economic effect of the integration of enterprises into the holding structure, based on the assessment of the level of technological and transaction costs. At the meso level the developed methodological approach provides an opportunity to assess the impact of the formation of the integration structure on the economic indicators of net and gross value added, based on the structuring of transaction costs for constituent elements of value added and intermediate consumption.
The mechanism of the formation of the regional timber industry holding is proposed. It involves six stages: the estimation of attractiveness of the economy of the region and its components of economic development, the definition of goals and assessment of the expediency of the formation of the timber industry holding, the analysis of the expected results of the regional holding, the development of strategy and methodological recommendations for the creation of the holding, the realization of the action plan for its formation, the development of measures aimed at control of the regional timber industry holding.
The effectiveness of management of timber industry holding increases using the system of controlling at three levels. At the first level, controlling is a central subsystem of the system of management of the holding, which coordinates the activities of all functional management units. At the second level (timber industry complex) the controlling function involves coordination of the work of the complex enterprises. Third level of controlling (regional) implies information-analytical support of regional authorities on issues of management of economic systems, etc.
It has been established that the association with the European Union offers certain advantages for the timber industry complex (opening of European markets for domestic forest products, an opportunity to use modern technologies, etc.) but also defines the risks of functioning of integration structures (strict criteria for product quality, high level of competition).
