Mashika H. Socio-geographical study of the economic potential of the Car- pathian region: theory and practice

In this thesis it has been conducted theoretical and practical reasoning of econom- ic potential of the Carpathian region. Ethymological sense of economic potential of the region argues that scientific and practical meaning of economic potential of the region should be observed as a regional economic complex, which represents large and branched territorial and economic system. The main factors of the economic potential of the region are the technological state and production activity, investment and innovation activities, health care, education and science, as well as natural and environmental factors. The strategy of formation of economic potential of the region has been grounded. The algorithm for managing the strategic development of the economic potential of the region stems from the mission of the region, strategic goals that form the general strategy of the re- gion development. For strategic management of the development of economic potential in the region, it is necessary to assess the capacity of the potential, including state and development; the effectiveness of use and formation, which are based on the application of SWOT-analysis. The methodology for assessing the economic potential of the region consists in the consistent assessment of indicators of the economic potential of the region, taking into account their outweighing coefficients. Factors of the economic potential of the region are divided into structural indicators. Thus, the integral value of the economic potential of the region can be represented in the form of a hierarchical structure, which includes three levels of detailing. Taking into account factors of influence of external and internal envi- ronment on the economic potential of the region that complement each other is obligatory in the assessment, analysis of economic potential of the region. It has been conducted the forecast of effective use of the economic potential of the Carpathian region. Analyzing the results of forecasting the efficiency of using the eco- nomic potential of the Carpathian region, we can observe the tendency for further growth of the GRP, a slight increase in indexes of industrial production, worsening of the de- mographic situation and, accordingly, a decrease in the number of economically active population and an increase in the incomes of citizens. In the field of ecology, there will be stabilization of the accumulation of waste.