Urban agglomerations as a form of population and concentration of economic activity

Abstract

In the current context of spatial transformation in Ukraine, urban agglomerations are gaining increasing importance as a form of territorial organization that enables the concentration of population, economic activity, and more efficient settlement patterns. A high level of urbanization and dynamic urbanization processes create the prerequisites for rethinking approaches to managing urban areas, particularly in light of post-war reconstruction and the challenges posed by the ongoing war. The purpose of this study is to identify the specific features of the formation and development of urban agglomerations in Ukraine, analyze legal and institutional problems hindering their functioning, and justify directions for improving the governance system and cooperation between territorial communities. Methods. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach was applied, including a review of scientific literature on urbanization and agglomeration processes, comparison of Ukrainian and international experiences, structural-functional analysis of the spatial organization of cities and agglomerations, examination of the Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa agglomerations, and logical-analytical generalization of challenges in the development of urban areas. The results showed that urban agglomerations in Ukraine already serve as key centers of regional development, contributing to increased economic activity, effective settlement systems, labor mobility, and access to social services. At the same time, the lack of legal status for agglomerations, unclear division of powers between core cities and surrounding communities, limited institutional capacity, and weak regulatory frameworks hinder the realization of the full potential of the economies of agglomeration as a set of economic, social, and environmental benefits. Currently, agglomerations mostly operate as de facto formations without formalized governance mechanisms. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that the effective development of urban agglomerations in Ukraine is constrained by the absence of a legal framework, insufficient institutional mechanisms of governance, and weak coordination among territorial communities. The paper proposes the establishment of agglomeration councils, legal recognition of their status, and the development of a unified model of intermunicipal cooperation to enhance the efficiency of spatial development.