FUNDAMENTALS OF LEGAL REGULATION OF INTERREGIONAL ECONOMIC COMPETITION IN UKRAINE

The purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the institutional environment of inter-regional competition in Ukraine, defining its legal framework, key actors, and mechanisms of influence on this dynamic process. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to ensure sustainable economic development and enhance the competitiveness of regions in the context of decentralization and European integration, which requires a deep understanding of current regulatory norms and practices. The work employs methods of systematic analysis, comparative-legal method, generalization, and logical synthesis for a detailed study of legislative acts that regulate both state regional policy and the protection of economic competition. The analysis established that the institutional environment of inter-regional competition is a multifaceted and complex system, including dispersed norms from a number of legislative acts, as well as the activities of various state and private institutions. It is determined that the main drivers of competition are legislative norms aimed at ensuring the economic autonomy of regions, developing their internal potential, and stimulating local initiatives. It is proven that regional councils, regional state administrations, and regional development agencies play a key role in articulating the aggregated interests of regions, promoting investment attraction, business development, and the formation of partnerships. At the same time, it is revealed that specialized legislation on the protection of economic competition imposes important restrictions on the concerted actions of actors, preventing monopolies and creating equal conditions for all market participants, which ensures the regulation of competition intensity. Thus, central government bodies have a crucial role in maintaining a balance between stimulating regional competitiveness and reducing territorial disparities. The practical value of the obtained results lies in the fact that they can be used by state authorities, local self-government bodies, and development institutions to improve state regional policy, develop more effective strategies for socio-economic development of regions, and enhance the mechanisms for managing inter-regional competition. This will contribute to strengthening the economic, social, and humanitarian cohesion of the state.