Ukrainian Society

9-16

Authors: Chernysh N.Yo.

The article is based on the author's speech at the 14th International Sociological Readings of memory of N. V. Panina in Kyiv on December 10, 2020 and is an extended version of this speech. Paper presents reflections on the specifics of the relationship between globalization and the pandemic, and the possible configurations of this relationship in different types of societies. The author suggests that the interaction between globalization and COVID-19 is a separate case of glocalization in current conditions and identifies the coronavirus features that pose a direct threat to humanity. It is emphasized that there are no unambiguous forecasts for future developments. There are several scenarios for the possible development of a pandemic of this virus, the probability of realization of which largely depends on such a feature as the wave-like development of the exponent. These features and characteristics of coronavirus infection outline several new challenges for sociological science, among which the main is to understand the sharp narrowing of the traditional subject of its research – social relations and human interactions in objective reality, transferring their growing part to the Internet and explosive growth of virtual reality. This radically intensifies sociologists' scientific research in the virtualization field and the multiplicity and hybridity of its forms and the cycle of realities in general. In the pandemic conditions, such spheres and directions of research appear as tertiary socialization on the Internet, forming virtual identities, forming a network person, etc. The priority trends of modern societies development in coronavirus pandemic conditions, such as radical renewal of economy and other spheres based on revolutionary technologies and introduction of artificial intelligence, are considered individually. It is emphasized that the coronavirus's global spread has led to a reassessment of values, forcing people to reconsider existing constructs (e.g. D. Rodrick's trilemma), in search of compromises. The article concludes with an appeal to Ukrainian sociologists to multiply efforts to understand new realities, considering new global, regional and local trends.

34-56

Authors: Shapoval Yu.I.

Under the Findex dataset, paper suggests a comparative assessment of the usage of financial accounts by groups (developing countries, high-income countries, and Ukraine). Authors outlines the barriers, which arise while using financial services and both socio-economic (income level, employment), and demographic characteristics (gender, age) of users. The increase of account holders, who make payments using mobile phones and the Internet, was marked. Simultaneously, women and poorer users have less access to these technologies, both among the banked and unbanked population. In contrast to world indicators in Ukraine, the level of financial account ownership is the same for both women and men, but there is a gap between richer and poorer, and a gap across the active labour force. Having analysed the unbanked population’s causes and characteristics, Ukrainians’ distrust of financial institutions was a significant barrier to account ownership. An overview of the indicators of financial account usage to make public payments, receive wages in the private sector, settlements with business (utility payments, domestic remittances, payments from individual entrepreneurs) is under consideration. The intensification of digital payments in Ukraine is observed in comparison with the majority of developing countries. The holders use debit cards more often in developing countries as well as in high-income countries and Ukraine. It is highlighted that financial account ownership does not indicate the population’s addiction to use it to accumulate savings. In general, the level of financial inclusion from the demand side is growing globally, and faster in developing countries, including Ukraine, due to the outspread of mobile phones and the Internet. There is more active usage of financial services in high-income countries, despite inequality in age, gender, employment. Although Ukraine usage indicators correspond to the average, the level lags far behind the indicators of high-income countries. It has been revealed that people in high-income countries owning financial account are more likely to be economically active, to save and borrow from financial institutions than those living in developing countries, who prefer informal ways of saving and lending. A low level of penetration of deposits and loans among individuals was noted alongside activation of non-cash payments. It is substantiated that the high level of financial inclusion of the population depends not only on the possession of a financial account but also on its usage mechanisms. The ways of increasing the use of financial services are identified, such as mobile payments, digitalisation of private and public payments, and an increase in financial literacy.

81-98

Authors: Popova O.L.

The author revealed the injustices in the territories formation of the united territorial communities (UTC) under the local self-government reform, which are manifested in different, uneven volumes of their land use and the resource basis in general for local socio-economic development. The methodological approach used by the authorities in determining the capacity of united communities in their formation (in terms of compliance with the criteria – the area and the population density), led to the fact that in rural areas with low population density they had to form large UTCs to reach specific parameters by population. The hypothesis that territorially large UTCs are capable is ambiguous: on the one hand, land tenure and land use is a resource for socio-economic development of communities, on the other – in a large area the cost of providing essential services to the population in remote villages increases together with the administrative and other costs. Paper proves that large-scale rural UTCs should become objects of the state support as the “rural areas in unfavourable conditions” under the State Strategy for Regional Development for 2021–2027. The author justifies injustices in the centralization of powers on disposal of land resources. The land decentralization as a transfer of relevant powers to UTC local governments will be finally completed, according to the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On some measures to accelerate reforms in the field of land relations” № 449 from 15.10.2020, which will contribute to orderliness in this area and filling local budgets. It is also advisable within the UTCs to give internal communities the right to dispose of their economic territory’s land resources in these communities’ interests. The paper shows discriminatory aspects of administrative reformatting of 120 voluntarily formed and functioning UTCs, according to the Government’s long-term plans for 2020: by recognizing them as insufficiently capable, they should join other communities or unite into larger UTCs.

113-124

Authors: Dikova-Favorska O.M.

The article considers the situation of inclusive education implementation in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine, which should provide quality education to all applicants. Providing quality and accessible education, including secondary education, realises every individual’s right full, economically independent life through obtaining an education, and the profession later on. This will allow one to become a complete actor in all social processes; it will help overcome social exclusion. The author specifies the definition of exclusion and outlines social groups of excluded, which are represented not only by people with health problems but also by those who find themselves in difficult life circumstances, such as migration, resettlement, and being in a new socio-cultural environment, etc. Special attention is paid to the social group of talented children who require particular professional sensitivity. Paper emphases the peculiarities of the organisation of education of children with disabilities according to the traditional system, which was inherited from the Soviet Union, and forms the idea of changing approaches to the special children’s educational process. The situation regarding the real state of implementing inclusive technology, which was massively initiated in educational institutions of general secondary education, is outlined. The results of expert interviews are analysed, which allows the author to determine the achievements in implementing the concept of inclusion in the educational process; the first challenges faced by direct participants in the inclusive educational process, the main risks and expectations of managers in education. Recommendations for optimising the educational process based on the inclusion are offered.

136-155

Authors: Balakireva O.M., Dmytruk D.A.

The national survey data is presented on the self-assessment of financial situation, delay or non-payment of wages, pensions, shadow incomes, subsistence wage, indices of socio-economic assessments and expectations of the Ukrainian population, the level of trust in the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as on the general political situation in Ukraine.

9-23

Authors: Heyets V. M.

Paper demonstrates how socialization and social innovations spread the social interaction of business and the state, based on the statement that socialization is functionally seen as a way to achieve a balance between competition, which forms actions to obtain higher business results, and mutual assistance to achieve social unity in the state through socialization. At the heart of competition and mutual assistance is socialization, which strengthens people’s desire to have a better life, which is especially vital for a less orderly society in which the functioning of the state occurs under the phenomenon of social distrust. To achieve the goals of stability in society and to support economic growth, the winners are the triumphers of the national solidarity spirit, achieved through social innovation, which through developing social interaction, creates conditions for sustainable development. Under the current conditions in Ukraine, it should be a matter of finding a balance between interests of the society, the state and the individual, which can be achieved through the social function of the state. This function should not restrict access to public goods, but rather ensure inclusive activities among economic institutions, which will suspend the destruction of social space, reduce inequality and intensify people’s behaviour, socializing their life activities in the social space of the country.

35-43

Authors: Vitkovska I. M.

Author uses secondary analysis of the results of empirical sociological and statistical studies to identify the main trends in the development of non-government organizations (NGOs) in Ukraine: the growing number of registered NGOs; increasing number of non-government social organizations and increasing number of implemented projects for the provision of social services to internally displaced persons, anti-terrorist operation participants and people who belong to vulnerable groups, or/and are in complicated life circumstances. The purpose of the article is to consider the current state of social responsibility of NGOs in Ukraine. The social responsibility of NGOs is defined in the paper as “a characteristic that is integrated into the activities of the NGO based on its Statute and implemented in practice by providing services on a professional basis, following international norms, to achieve socially significant goals, solving acute social problems, ensuring sustainable development of the community, the region, and the country as a whole”. To have an in-depth study of the basic principles of social responsibility of NGOs, the author conducted a content analysis of 200 websites of NGOs. Content analysis questionnaire included such indicators as annual financial report; annual non-financial report; NGO’s development strategy; information about partners, etc. The main indicators of social responsibility of NGOs are in compliance of the organization’s charter developed according to requirements of the current Ukrainian legislation and the provisions of international standards; transparent activities taking into account the interests of stakeholders, availability of annual reports (financial and non-financial), etc.

62-77

Authors: Gakhovych N. H., Kushnirenko O. M.

The paper considers the conceptual grounds of the possibility of integration of the Ukrainian industry into circular value chains. The authors have identified the global challenges threatening the industry development of Ukraine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as border closings, the increased requirements of security due to isolation, the blockage of labour migration flows, the disruption of intermediate goods supply chains, the decline in production operations, a considerable shortage of capital, declining returns, undermining the financial stability and liquidity; increasing the probability of failure. Implementation of Ukrainian industry on the circular value chains contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the prospects for the restoration of Ukraine’s industrial capacity in the harsh conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to assessment of the losses caused by COVID-19 authors have shown that supply disruptions had effect on reducing the length of value chains, particularly in the machinery, metallurgy and textile sectors. The authors have determined that circular value chains maximize value-added throughout the product life cycle to increase the recycling of materials. The prospects for the integration of Ukrainian industry into circular value chains were justified, in particular, production of paper, paperboard, PET and glass; recycling of building debris, used clothing, tyres and organic waste; repair and rehabilitation of household appliances. An important role can be played by Ukrainian industry, which, although under challenging conditions, has sufficient potential in circular value chains. With this purpose, the following government incentives were developed: improvement of legislation, implementation of the principles of balanced Ukrainian development, financial support for projects aimed at developing a circular economy, as well as development of regional waste management plans with special focus on the European Green Deal.

91-103

Authors: Maidanik I. P.

The purpose of the article is to identify the main migration groups of big cities of Ukraine, to define the features of their involvement in cities labour markets and infrastructure services at the local level. The work is aimed at resolving the scientific contradiction between the high concentration of migrants in specific cities and researches, which are carried out mostly at the state level. The change of research focus from the national to the local level determines the relevance and novelty of the publication. The article structures the subject field of migration research at the level of certain settlements (localities). Depending on the degree of arrived population, integration into the organization of the city system, the article distinguishes two main types of persons: migrant visitors and migrant residents. The first group includes people who live outside big cities but make regular trips there to study or work (so-called pendulum and shift migrants). The significant impact of this group is on the transport infrastructure of Ukraine’s big cities, which is currently in need of renovation and modernization. Migrant residents, arriving in big cities, settle there for a long time or for good, thus creating more robust and diverse connections with the locality of arrival. This group’s presence mostly affects housing, communal, household and educational infrastructure of big cities. The category of migrant residents in big cities has quite a heterogeneous composition: this includes foreigners and Ukrainians who came from other regions (among which there is a large group of internally displaced persons). Socio-economic involvement of international immigrants largely depends on the legal status holding.

124-141

Authors: Pyvovarova N. P., Artiukh O. R.

The concepts of “decriminalization” and “legalization” of sex work are defined. Based on a sociological study, the attitudes of the Ukrainian public and sex workers to the potential change in the legal status of sex services in Ukraine is characterized. Authors analyse the public attitude toward the concepts and phenomena of “sex work” and “sex workers”, level of awareness of the population and sex workers about the current legislation in the scope of sex work regulation in Ukraine and the attitude to it, opinions on potential conditions of decriminalization and expected changes as a result of changes in the sex work legal status, level of interest of sex workers in the fact of decriminalization and legalization and their readiness for possible changes. These studies show an utterly predictable contrast between the attitudes, desires and expectations regarding potential changes in the legal status of sex work in Ukraine of the average Ukrainian and a sex worker – from disinclination and rejection of such changes by the first to the unreadiness and possible radiant hopes of the latter. Thus, 51% of Ukrainians oppose the revocation of penalty for the voluntary provision of paid sex services, while 93% of sex workers are interested in the revocation of such penalty. Modelling the situation where the penalty for sex work is revoked, the potential improvements suggested by sex workers are the following: safer working conditions and reduced risks of violence – 74%; the possibility of legal protection from the police – 67%, in court and prosecutor’s office – 64%; reduction of stigma at the level of society – 58%, at the level of self-esteem – 53%; expected reduction in health risks, including HIV/STIs – 49%. The appropriateness to form a public attitude to sex work as a type of entrepreneurial activity, which should be regulated by labour, civil, economic, financial and other branches of law, and to sex workers as those who are entitled to refuse (a client, employer, profession in general), appropriate working conditions and trade union or judicial protection, anonymity, social guarantees and pensions, self-organization, etc. are proved.

157-170

Authors: Nesterenko Ye. O., Liudohovska K. V.

Paper presents the results of the innovative youth project U-Report. Report for July – September 2020: youth health concerns, visiting doctors, health care for adolescents and young people, distance learning and work after the pandemic, support for distance learning teachers, career prospects for young people during the COVID-19 crisis, youth volunteer practices, the impact of quarantine for volunteering, barriers to volunteering, youth participation in local elections.

9-28

Authors: Golikov A. S.

The article reveals the problems of biopolitics in a globalized world, which were actualized by the social, political, economic, cultural and other consequences of the pandemic. Based on the work of Michel Foucault regarding biopolitics and biopower, the author analyzes the key concepts of the study of biopolitics in the context of globalization from the sociology of knowledge perspective. The problem of (re-)birth of biopolitics in the conditions of a globalized capitalist society is investigated. It is emphasized, that the trends and patterns discovered by M. Foucault differentiate, become more diverse and unexpected in their manifestations. Classifications of subjects of biopolitics, as well as biopolitics themselves, where the author identifies biotactics and biostrategies, are given and analyzed. A special emphasis is placed on the multilevel structure of biopolitics in the modern world: from the point of view of Foucauldian consideration of dispersed and diffuse power, using examples of the activities of different subjects of the modern world it is studied, how the same participants in the social game turn out to be both subjects and objects of biopolitics. Here, the security discourse as a tool for legitimizing biopolitics in a state of emergency (according to G. Agamben) turns out to be the most important plot. In addition, the participation of various actors (academic, political, economic, sacred, every day, communicative) with the use of a wide variety of biopolitical tools (material, symbolic, discursive, practical, communicative) by them is important. A number of conclusions are formulated both about the changing role of biopolitics, and about the potential place of sociology in such a world.

46-58

Authors: Reznik O. S., Kozlovskiy O. R.

The article examines sociological perspectives of the study of the factors of citizens’ attitudes towards the state power. Attitudes towards state power are defined as the reactions of individuals to the activities of various authorities, which are contingent on their political, economic and socio-cultural preferences as a consequence of social stratification in a particular society. The analysis of theoretical approaches to the determination of citizens’ attitudes towards power institutions has identified socioeconomic, structural and value-ideological factors. The impact of these determinants depends on the scope of authority. Structural and value-ideological factors play a key role in dealing with central authorities. Attitudes towards local authorities are more determined by socioeconomic motives, since people are mostly rational in their assessment of the activities of mayors, local councils, local administrations. Declining support for incumbent government is exacerbated by the emergence of alternative political forces in the mass consciousness that embody solutions to socio-economic problems or profess close values and political aspirations. The experience of empirical studies on the perception of political institutions by Ukrainians shows that social transformations in their temporal gravity have caused different configurations of the determinants of attitudes to state power. At the initial stage of social transformation in Ukraine, an ideological factor was crucial when attitudes towards power institutions were driven by support for market reforms or the pursuit of state paternalism. At the same time, the influence of structural factors – regional distribution, ethno-cultural and geopolitical orientations – became evident, which in the subsequent stages became more decisive. Repeated or monitoring studies reveal both the specific bursts of certain factors in certain years and the persistence and reproducibility of the determinants of attitudes toward government.

74-92

Authors: Dembitskyi S. S., Zlobina O. G., Sydorov M. V.-S., Mamonova H. A.

The main trends in public opinion research during the COVID-19 pandemic in different countries are considered. There are three areas of such research: 1) exploring of respondents’ experiences, which they associate with coronavirus and forced isolation; 2) study of the states dynamics; 3) tracking negative emotional dynamics that threaten mental health. The need to study the factors that have the greatest impact on the deterioration of the population’s mental health during quarantine has been identified. A survey was conducted among users of the social media “Facebook”. The sample was constructed using targeted advertising among the main demographic groups (gender, age) of all regional centers of Ukraine. The total sample size was 6973 observations. The number of women and men in the sample was 62% and 38%, respectively. The average age of women is 43,0 years, men – 41,5. Based on the data obtained, five key stressors that determine the level of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: assessment of the probability of contracting coronavirus, frequency of checking news about coronavirus, incidence in the last six months, level of tension with cohabitants and assessment of complexity permanent insulation. The traditional finding in the study of psychological distress was the difference in its level between men and women. At the same time, the only stressor whose distribution of values differs significantly in men and women is the frequency of diseases in the last six months. A developed regression model showed that in addition to key stressors, explanatory potential has variables such as estimating the likelihood of coronavirus infection in severe form (stressors start at 50%), age group (60 years and older) and the absence of chronic diseases. The total explanatory potential of the model is 27,6%. It is concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic has created objective preconditions for a significant deterioration in the psychological well-being, if not of the entire population of Ukraine, then at least of some of its groups. The phenomenon of stress resistance has been identified as a promising area of further research.

110-122

Authors: Nagorniak K. M.

The paper presents findings of a survey into values of different generations conducted by Academy DTEK jointly with hh.ua|grc During two months of 2019 we polled 2,182 visitors of the Ukrainian Job portal hh.ua|grc (both job seekers and employers), followers of the survey organizers’ pages in social networks (Facebook and Telegram) aged between 15 and 72. The purpose of the study was to find out the central values of young people and older generations of Ukraine. To study the values of generations, the author used Shalom Schwartz’s method of ten fundamental individual values. The method was applied to three different generations. The findings of the poll enabled us to answer questions regarding values and job values of generations X, Y, and Z. What are the similarities and differences of generations, what motivates them at work, and which supervisor is more comfortable for them to work with. The outcome of this survey is a data-oriented database for Ukrainian businesses and the state and public sectors. As the survey shows, the youth upholds values related to individualistic preferences and openness to change: young people strive for new ideas, adventures, and risks and want to be creative and go their own way. The older generation holds values associated with the preservation of traditions and customs, conformity (following rules and norms), and security. Representatives of different generations need different things from their potential supervisors. For instance, Generation Z feels it is essential to be able to ask their supervisor any questions they like, even if they may sound “ridiculous”, and be treated as equals by their supervisor. For Generation Y, their supervisor must discuss professional development issues with them: their goals and expectations concerning career advancement. For Generation X, the supervisor must trust them and build a climate of mutual support and collaboration in the team.

138-151

Authors: Anhelko I. V.

Paper highlights and characterises the peculiarities of determining the investment attractiveness of regions through the prism of influence factors. It is proved that the attractiveness of regions is influenced by factors at national and regional levels, among which tourism is of great importance. From the standpoint of tourism development, to increase the level of investment in a particular region, it is important to assess its tourist attractiveness. This assessment means the availability of tourist resources, a modern developed logistical base of tourism, accessible and sufficient information about the region, which would meet the needs of tourists and ensure maximum social and economic impact. It is determined that based on the assessment of a specific component of the tourist attractiveness of the region, a decision is made to attract a certain amount of investment resources (both internal and external (foreign)) in the development of this industry. Based on the classification of factors influencing the investment attractiveness of the tourist region from the standpoint of its socio-economic development, investment activities and the state of tourist infrastructure, priority areas for increasing the investment attractiveness of Drohobych as a tourist region are proposed. Among the priority areas for increasing the investment attractiveness of Drohobych region are a number of measures to implement liberal administrative and tax policies by local authorities, as well as regional branding – one of the most effective marketing tools, which allows to develop a sustainable strategy for regional development, positioning of a tourist product in Ukraine and abroad, formation of a positive image. It is generalized that the positive effect from realization of the offered areas for increase of investment attractiveness of tourist region, can be reached only at their complex use taking into account changes of the market environment.

172-184

Authors: Kvit A. S., Martsenyuk T. O.

This paper analyses attitudes towards veterans among the adult population of Ukraine, its support for veterans in politics, trust to veterans and expectations from them. It also identifies information sources used by the population to form their opinion about veterans. The paper is based on the results of the all-Ukrainian public survey conducted in May-June 2019

9-40

Authors: Kotygorenko V. O., Panchuk M. I.

The article analyzes the problematic aspects of the terminology of legislation regulating ethno-national relations in Ukraine. In particular, these are denotations of the same or identical concepts with different, and in certain cases incorrect words and phrases, lack or inconsistency in the basic definitions. This situation impedes the adoption of a law that would outline the purpose, principles and long-term objectives of the state ethnopolicy and determine the conceptual foundations of further lawmaking, administrative decisions and practical political actions, as well as entails political and legal conflicts. The article substantiates the necessity of implementation of the following definitions of ethnopolitical terms into Ukrainian legislation: state ethno-national policy (state ethnopolicy) of Ukraine – the system of ideas, goals, objectives, principles, legal regulators, state decisions and actions in the field of ethno-national relations; ethno-national relations in Ukraine are relations between individuals, groups of individuals, organizations, institutions and other public entities regarding the consolidation and development of the Ukrainian nation, its historical consciousness, traditions and culture, as well as the development of ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious distinctive identities of all indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine; Ukrainian nation (Ukrainian people) – citizens of all nationalities who continue the centuries-old history of Ukrainian state building; care of ensuring the human rights and freedoms as well as decent living conditions, of strengthening civil concord on the land of Ukraine; strive to develop and strengthen a democratic, social and rule-of-law Ukrainian state; nationality – a person’s recognition of his/her belonging to a certain group, which is united by similar ideas about its ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious distinctiveness and by the similarity of civic interests and values, and which has a common historical native name; Ukrainians – persons who are aware of their belonging to the largest ethnically distinctive group in the population of Ukraine, whose historical native name corresponds to the traditional name of the space, which is the territory of the state of Ukraine, as well as persons of all nationalities who are citizens of Ukraine; national minorities of Ukraine include groups of citizens who, being not ethnic Ukrainians, show a sense of national identity and commonality among themselves, maintain long-standing, strong and continuous ties with Ukraine; indigenous peoples of Ukraine are groups of citizens whose sense of national identity and commonality reflect the genesis of these groups in the space that is the territory of the Ukrainian state, where most of the people belonging to these groups live and who are not ethnic Ukrainians.

52-61

Authors: Poltorakov O. Yu.

In recent decades, the research focus of metaphor studies has gradually shifted from the humanities, to the social sciences, as well as to the related scientific fields, namely cognition and consciousness studies (including artificial intelligence). This emphasizes the necessity of some revision of the conceptual and terminological apparatus, the one expanding accordingly, especially in the focus of identifying the cognitive abilities of different linguistic means, used interdisciplinarily. Accordingly, the processes of “metaphorization” (interdisciplinary terminological extrapolation), as well as “demetaphorization” (as a gradual deprivation of “unnecessary” subjectivization in favor of the dominance of the objectification of the terminological field), to be accentuated and articulated. In this case, “demetaphorization” is “in the shadow” of the research attention to “metaphorization”. However, sociologically, they must be viewed in dialectical unity and complementarity. The dominant research methods (in the social sciences – primarily reconstruction), through the prism of “reflective postmodern” exert their influence on the toolkit of “metaphoricity”. It is the cognitive toolkit of metaphorization and the operational resource of the demetaphorization that is dialectically an auxiliary channel of social science operationalization in the “gray zone” of the classical positivist and alternative cognitive paradigms, which as a whole actualizes and accentuates scientific and analytical understanding of the problem. A general problem of the forms of scientific knowledge (including demetaphorized scientific terms e.g. “privatization of violence”) circulating in society requires further research.

83-107

Authors: Kostrytsia V. І., Burlay T. V.

Recent years have shown that trends in globalization, digitization, demographic change, migration, and others have exacerbated the problem of employment imbalances, which have a serious impact on global and national labour markets. It is noted that this problem will be exacerbated in the nearest future by the shock effect of the COVID-19 pandemic announced by WHO in March 2020. It has been stated that for national governments, this necessitates a focus on addressing the problem of imbalances in the internal labour markets through public policy instruments. For Ukraine, this is also important in the context of achieving the objectives of the Association Agreement with the EU, since imbalances in employment are one of the causes of the socio-economic divergence between them, which has been observed since 2014. The main types of imbalances in the labour markets of Ukraine and the European Union are shown. The dynamics of convergence and divergence processes at the EU-Ukraine level in the employment sector are evaluated, and the potential consequences of these processes are identified. The EU’s current approaches and programmatic tools to tackle imbalances and divergence in employment are comprehensively described. Based on a critical approach, a general description of the current state of the labour market of Ukraine and its state policy in the sphere of labour and protection of social and labour rights of people is given. The most urgent problems in terms of employment, quantity and quality of jobs, dynamics of labour migration, etc., which have resulted from fragmentation and neglect of such policy are identified. A number of recommendations have been developed on the first steps of Ukraine’s public policy aimed at balancing national and regional labour markets and overcoming divergence with the European Union in the field of employment. It is stated that the relevant state policy should be implemented in two stages. Firstly, in the near future, due to the spread of the pandemic coronavirus infection, it is necessary to adopt and urgently implement the Crisis Measures Program, developed based on the OECD Recommendations on urgent employment and social policy actions needed to support the population and business in supporting the population and business with the COVID-19 pandemic. During the second stage – in the period after the cessation of the pandemic of the coronavirus and the abolition of the quarantine regime, the first steps should be the adoption of new labour legislation of Ukraine, comprehensive programs for preserving existing and creating new jobs, strengthening the institutional role of the State Employment Service, improving the domestic remuneration system and other activities.

123-137

Authors: Shkliar A. I.

Paper dwells upon the phenomenon of the emergence of central banks’ digital currencies (CBDC). Forms of digital money as means of exchange have been identified, and differences between central banks’ digital currencies and other forms of central bank money such as physical money and reserves have been analyzed. Key causes of digital currency development by central banks were highlighted: the approach to the cashless economy, the fight against money laundering and tax evasion, the increasing competition of private digital currencies, the improvement of the monetary policy transmission mechanism, and technological advancement of the payment sector. Key differences between CBDC and private digital currencies and physical currencies were analyzed and highlighted in terms of availability, anonymity, P2P transfers, interest-bearing features, and other possible limits. The main advantages of the CBDC were noted: stability and reliability, safety, speed and ease of use. At the same time, a list of prerequisites and factors that could enhance the benefits of central banks implementing their digital currencies were highlighted: more efficient retail payments, diminishing cash payments, strengthening the effectiveness of monetary policy and improving financial stability. Existing options for the design of the CBDC have been clarified, taking into account the technological aspect and the scope: “retail” for the general public and “wholesale” for financial institutions. Key warnings of the central banks of the world about the possible negative consequences of launching the CBDC were noted, in particular, the disturbance of the financial system balance, when the flow of commercial bank clients to the central bank will force the first to raise deposit rates, which will eventually affect the cost of borrowing. The attitude of the key central banks of the world to the phenomenon of cryptocurrency development was noted, in particular, a much more positive attitude towards blockchain technology was observed compared to the position of the central banks on digital assets in general. At the same time, technological problems of blockchain technology in terms of its throughput capacity (number of transactions per unit of time) were noted, which is significantly inferior to other existing payment platforms. Central banks of the world have been grouped based on the CBDC development principles, and public justifications for the need for CBDC implementation. The key ones being to reduce cash use and increase financial inclusion. The four existing options for the introduction of the CBDC were analyzed, each of which has individual features. The combined efforts of the world’s central banks to study and test various aspects of the technical implementation of the CBDC in the form of joint projects were systematized.

149-161

Authors: Bodnarchuk T. L.

Paper dwells upon main conditions and factors of Ukraine’s foreign trade relations formation in the early 1990’s. Author determines socio-political and economic preconditions of Ukraine’s becoming as a full-fledged subject of international economic relations, including the Soviet economy crisis, macroeconomic recession, social and political transformations, the deterioration of the USSR’s international position. It was defined that with the declaration of independence, a course was taken on realizing Ukraine’s export potential, its competitive advantages in foreign markets, establishing diversified trade, industrial, cooperative, scientific and technical ties. The tasks were carried out in complex external and internal conditions, among which, on the one hand, was the reduction of tensions on the world stage, the development of globalization and regionalization, the activation of integration processes, the liberalization of foreign economic activity, and on the other hand, the difficult domestic and economic situation of Ukraine, noted by falling production, hyperinflation, declining national income, economic shadowing, corruption development, increasing country’s import dependency, deepening of social differentiation etc. The author substantiates impact on the development of the foreign trade activity of Ukraine by the system of endogenous factors, in particular, natural-geographical (favorable geographical position, rich natural-resource, and labor potential), socio-political (change of political regime, development of democratic institutions, considerable military potential), socio-economic (pluralism of ownership forms, development of entrepreneurship and market infrastructure, liberalization of domestic foreign economic activity, etc.). The paper establishes a system of determinants of exogenous influence on strengthening the competitive position of Ukraine, among which author highlights the role of supranational institutions, the internationalization of production, the transformation of the European division of labor, liberalization, and intensification of cooperation between the countries of Western and Eastern Europe, etc.

186-200

Authors: Nesterenko Ye. O.

Paper presents the results of the innovative youth project U-Report. Report for January – March 2020: iodized salt сonsumption, youth attitude to iodized salt, extracurricular education, out-of-school education, air pollution, air quality improvement in Ukraine, public monitoring of air pollution, obtaining information on coronavirus, and responding to coronavirus-like symptoms.