Abundance and distribution of nematodes of the genus Trichuris Schrank, 1788 parasitizing domestic sheep (Ovis aries Linnaeus, 1758) were studied in Poltava, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia Regions of Ukraine. Three species of Trichuris were found, Trichuris skrjabini Baskakov, 1924, Trichuris ovis Abildgaard, 1795 and Trichuris globulosa Linstow, 1901. Trichuris ovis and T. skrjabini were more common (54.9 and 35.7 %), whereas T. globulosa was relatively rare (9.4 %) in the studied material. New species-specific and sex-related morphological characters and metric indices were reviewed as useful in better identification of T. skrjabini, T. ovis and T. globulosa parasitizing sheep.

The necessity of using ecologically oriented approach in the process of production by developing and introducing the system of ecological management was investigated in the article. The general principles of its formation with the directions of actions and results were determined. 14 principles of efficient management of V.Ye. Deming for raising the efficiency of ecological management system were adapted with the aim of its constant improving, ensuring long-term developing of enterprise, and raising its competitiveness. The conducting of SWOT-analysis in the system of ecological management was suggested for determining the strategies of enterprise activities, further improving and raising the efficiency of this system. The model of forming the efficient system of enterprise ecological management was suggested. The improvement and efficiency of this system presupposes using general principles and those of efficiency, external environmental information, and SWOT-analysis. The international experience of inefficient ecological management, proving the expediency of using the system of enterprise ecological management, was shown.

The idea of inhancing competitiveness of the national economy was developed in the article from the position of improving energy efficiency and diversifying energy supply sources in rural areas, considering promising directions of development. Current situation in the country was analyzed, and comparisons with European countries were made, promising ways of sustainable rural development were determined, connected with the creation and improvement of the existing tools for using renewable energy sources. Particular attention was paid to the analysis and development of concepts of optimal models for complex utilization of renewable energy sources at the local level. Practical recommendations for introduction of renewable energy sources for energy supply in rural areas were developed. The necessity in deepening Goverment system measures to stimulate and support energy efficiency and the utilization of renewable energy sources was proven, as well as priority directions for the implementation of corresponding projects were identified. The necessity and peculiarities of the ways of diversifying energy supply sources for rural territories were studied. The concept and practical recommendations for utilization of biomass as the most promising type of renewable energy sources in rural areas of Ukraine were developed.

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to develop the concept of complex estimation of bankruptcy probability of agrarian enterprises in Ukraine, taking into account the specifics of agricultural activities. Methodology / approach. To achieve the purpose, the following research methods were used: abstract-logical (at disclosing the essence of the concept of “bankruptcy”); dialectical (for theoretical generalizations on determining the problems and ways to overcome them, drawing conclusions); expert estimations, comparative analysis, analysis and synthesis (at developing the concept of estimating the probability of bankruptcy); relative indicators-coefficients (at studying models for estimating the probability of bankruptcy occurrence); monographic (for in-depth study of separate types of factors affecting the probability of bankruptcy); graphical and tabular (at presenting the research results). Results. It has been proven that the discriminant analysis for estimating the probability of bankruptcy (the construction of multifactor models that summarize the most important financial indicators in the integrated index) does not take into account the industry characteristics of agrarian enterprises. The concept of bankruptcy diagnostics is proposed, which combines discriminant analysis and expert estimation of qualitative signs of a possible crisis of an agrarian enterprise. The indicators selected for expert examination cover non-financial factors – the risks and threats to agricultural production in Ukraine, and their generalization may specify the risk of bankruptcy occurrence. The scoring model has been derived by the method of expert estimations, the scale has been developed, which is combined with the discriminant one that will enable to bring the results of the research into the interval of the indicator for estimating the occurrence of bankruptcy. Originality / scientific novelty. The definition of the term “bankruptcy” has been improved: the author’s definition combines the economic and legal approaches to it. The main risks of agricultural activities in Ukraine have been specified and their impact on the probability of bankruptcy of agrarian enterprises has been outlined. It has been developed the methodological concept for estimating the probability of bankruptcy of agrarian enterprises, which takes into account informal factors. For the first time, in order to predict the bankruptcy of agrarian enterprises, it has been proposed to combine discriminant analysis and expert estimation of qualitative indicators that increase its risk in agriculture. Practical value / implications. The application of the developed methodology provides an opportunity for the agrarian enterprise of timely responding to the threats of financial crisis and bankruptcy in order to prevent them. The proposed approach can be used as an element of estimating the insurance risk or investment attractiveness of agricultural enterprises. In case of its adaptation, the methodology can be used in foreign practice.

Boston Consulting Group Matrix is the most popular methodological tool for analysing corporate portfolios. However, the method of using the Matrix has been frequently criticised, and the peak of popularity of this tool has passed. The purpose of this study is to find new areas of application for the Boston Consulting Group Matrix in the economic analysis of entrepreneurial activity. The following research methods were used: monographic, dialectical, abstract-logical, graphic, and tabular. It is shown that the use of the conventional BCG Matrix method is limited due to the ambiguity of conceptual foundations, methodological problems, and lack of complete information about the activities of competitors. The study proved that inaccuracies in the analysis of the market growth rate and the relative share of individual entities in it allow accurately assessing business prospects in this area. Methodological and applied issues arising when a company evaluates its market share of certain products are considered. A modification of the BCG Matrix is proposed, which distributes the assortment units of the analysed business entity according to certain profit growth reserves. Depending on the objects of a particular analysis, grouping in the modified matrix can be carried out according to individual types of products (goods, works, services) or by groups of buyers (consumers). The main problems with application of the BCG Matrix were clarified and systematised. Solutions for certain shortcomings of the conventional BCG Matrix were found, namely regarding the method for calculating the indicators it holds. A modification of the BCG Matrix is proposed, which classifies types of products (goods, works, services) by prospective profit reserves and changes in their share in the company’s profit structure. A similar matrix is designed to classify buyers of goods or consumers of a company’s services. The study figured out the place of the proposed BCG Matrix modification in economic analysis. The proposed variations of BCG Matrix have an advantage over the classical version, since they are based on internal analysis of only one subject of activity, and not on evaluating the potential of competitors. The developed modification of the analysis method can be integrated into the system of comprehensive economic analysis of any company. The results of the analysis using modified BCG Matrix can be used in financial strategic planning and marketing strategy development, specifically when planning advertising campaigns

The theoretical and methodological foundations of investment support for innovation-oriented development of the agrarian production were worked out and substantiated in the article. The systematization of theoretical approaches was conducted and the peculiarities of innovation development investment support of the agrarian production in modern conditions were determined. The factors affecting the process of investment support of the agrarian production innovation development were determined. The substantiation of the factors that form the innovative activity of the agrarian production and the process of its investment provision were conducted. The principles of investment support of the agrarian production innovation-oriented development were supplemented, to which the principle of balanced development was added. The essence of this principle is the parallel implementation of investment and innovative activities. Considering this principle makes it possible to pursue investment policy in the agrarian sector in terms of activating investment advantages and continuous mastering of new knowledge and innovations, taking into account branch and regional peculiarities. The concept was developed as to creating the economic mechanism of regulating the investment support of the agrarian production innovation development which depends on the chosen purposes of the branch development and influence of external and internal environmental factors on investment, and the conditions of its innovative potential development, revealing the main factors, favoring or preventing from activating the investment activities in the agrarian sector and act on the object of management. Implementation of the economic regulation mechanism allows to provide the procedure of the organizing efficiency management and to form methodological tools, measuring it depending on the type of developing investment and innovative processes in the agrarian sphere.