Zapototskiy S. The scientific principles of forming the competitiveness of the region: social geographic investigation

In this dissertation theoretical, methodological and practical principles of publicly geographical research of regional competitiveness have been developed. The stages of forming of scientific principles of competition study and competitiveness of territories have been generalized. Approaches to the interpretation of essence of the concept "regional competitiveness" have been absorbed, certainly essence and features of regional competitive advantages forming have been determined. Conformities to law and principles of regional competitiveness proving have been investigated, the factors of its forming have been studied, methodical approaches and methods of estimation of the regional competitiveness have been formulated. The estimation of factors of regional competitiveness has been conducted, certainly types have been determined and analyzed, and complex typification of regions of Ukraine has been done according to the level of competitiveness. The analysis of competitiveness has been conducted on the example of administrative region and administrative district. The explanation of the basic directions of optimization of regional competitive development has been carried out in this work on the basis of effective territorial forms of production organization, the priority of cluster model of economy and analysis of potential possibilities of clusters forming, forming of the effective regional marketing and branding, the optimization of the system of institutional and innovative providing of regional competitiveness, policy of Ukrainian regions competitiveness increasing. Keywords: regional competitiveness, competitive advantages, interregional competition, competitive regional development.