IMPROVEMENT OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN A HIGHLY URBANIZED REGION: FROM ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY TO AN INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE

This study examines the theoretical and methodological foundations for assessing the relationship between the state of the urban environment and economic sustainability in highly urbanized regions. The purpose of the study is to examine the degree of influence of urban improvement on economic sustainability and quality of life in highly urbanized regions. The central place in the study is occupied by the conceptualization of urban improvement as a multifaceted system that has a significant impact on the sustainability of the regional economy, as well as on the quality of life. The study examines various approaches to defining the concept of "region", as well as which regions can be considered highly urbanized within the framework of domestic specifics, including using the approaches developed by the United Nations. The theoretical basis used in this study emphasizes the dynamic interdependence between urban development, economic sustainability and the quality of life of the population. Also, various approaches to defining economic sustainability in a regional context are considered. Based on the works of domestic and foreign researchers, the corresponding components are identified, indicators are proposed that allow for a quantitative assessment of the designated areas. The results of the study highlight a moderate linear relationship between the quality of the urban environment and a group of indicators characterizing the economic sustainability of the region. Regions with a higher quality of the urban environment systematically demonstrate higher economic indicators, which indicates the transformative potential of targeted improvement of the urban environment. A similar effect was found in relation to the quality of life. The data obtained indicate a hierarchical stratification of regions - from regions with low indicators of the state of the urban environment and economy to clusters with higher indicator values. These results confirm the hypothesis that the improvement of the urban environment is one of the factors of economic sustainability of the region, being an auxiliary tool in achieving economic sustainability.