Insecurity, chaotic extensive internal movement, and external migration, growing social vulnerability, and decreasing economic stability of internally displaced persons, characterize the migration crisis caused by the large-scale Russian war against Ukraine. The aim of this paper is to reveal the needs (tangible and intangible), challenges, and opportunities for the social integration of internally displaced persons in the host communities (on the example of the Pidberiztsivska territorial community of Lviv oblast). The paper presents the sociological survey through in-depth interviews based on questionnaires. The sample is based on five strata (four starostyn areas and the administrative center) and amounts to 4% of the statistical population (50 displaced persons). The paper specifies that the host society’s lack of affordable housing (68.6% of respondents) and limited employment opportunities (39.9% of respondents) are the main challenges for internally displaced persons. The survey reveals a low level of integration of internally displaced persons and a lack of desire to assimilate into the host society caused by positive aspirations to emigrate abroad (13.5% of respondents) and intentions to return to their previous (permanent) place of residence (54% of respondents). Mapping the problems and needs of internally displaced persons can constitute the information-analytical basis for ensuring the communities’ economic progress in times of war in terms of accumulation and efficient use of the capacity of internally displaced persons. AcknowledgmentThe study is conducted within the framework of the grant “Instruments for the support of integration of IDPs into life in the Pidberiztsivska territorial community: A pilot project in Lviv oblast” funded by the International Renaissance Foundation (Grant registration number 54766, 2022–2023).

Financial resilience is the basis of economic development as it determines the ability of the financial system to efficiently perform its functions and ensure optimal resource allocation and the normal course of economic processes under the impact of macroeconomic shocks and endogenous risks. The article aims to assess financial resilience as a systemic component of ensuring the economic development of Ukrainian regions. The research methods include systemic and structural analysis (building an information and analytical model for studying financial resilience), clustering (grouping regions by the criterion of economic development), and risk theory and analysis of variance (identifying potential zones of financial resilience and its components). Data from the regions (oblasts) of Ukraine for 2015–2021 serve as the information and analytical basis of the study. The article reveals that in 2021 regions with better financial resilience (Zhytomyrska, Dnipropetrovska, Kyivska, Lvivska, Odeska, Kharkivska, Cherkaska, and Volynska oblasts) take leading positions in terms of economic development and more efficient use of exogenous and endogenous financial resources than the regions with low financial resilience (Chernivetska, Vinnytska, Khmelnytska, Donetska, Ternopilska, and Ivano-Frankivska oblasts). The study proves that enhancing financial resilience is a trigger and foundation for ensuring economic growth in the regions, especially amid macroeconomic shocks. Balancing the need to use financial resources to restore the economy (growth of production, consumption, and employment) while reducing the dependence of regional economies on external financial sources should become the main vector of policy to ensure the financial resilience of Ukrainian regions. AcknowledgmentsThe study was conducted within the framework of the “Financial Determinants of Ensuring Economic Growth of Regions and Territorial Communities based on Behavioral Economics” project (No. 2020.02/0215) funded by the National Research Foundation of Ukraine (Competition “Support for Research of Leading and Young Scientists”).

Russia’s war against Ukraine has exacerbated challenges and risks to community development. Improving the ability to withstand the shocks of the external and internal environment, adapt to changes in the security environment, respond to threats, maintain sustainable functioning, and recover to the desired equilibrium will contribute to strengthening the resilience of communities. Budgetary instruments are crucial for ensuring the resilience of communities in such conditions. This study aims to identify the impact of budgetary instruments on ensuring the resilience of territorial communities amid the war in Ukraine (the case of Lviv oblast). The methods include a systemic and structural approach (building an information and analytical model of resilience research) and indicative and GAP analysis (identifying the impact of budgetary instruments on community resilience, in particular, local taxes, transfers, and personal income tax (PIT)). The data of 73 communities in Lviv oblast for 2021–2023 were collected. The study shows that the resilience of the territorial communities of Lviv oblast during the study period was at a moderate and above-moderate level; most were in the zones of resistance (resilience indicators ranging from 0.43-0.65) and decreasing resilience (0.42-0.20); the resilience of 8% was at a critically low level (2022–2023). The results estimate that the resilience of 90% communities in 2024 will not change significantly if military PIT is redirected from local to state budgets, except for those communities whose resilience is highly dependent on the amount of military PIT (the decrease in resilience will range from 12.5 to 4.2 percentage points).

The transformation of vocational education and training (VET) systems has become a strategic priority for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the context of accelerating global economic transitions. This article examines how EU member states modify their VET systems to address evolving labor market demands and align with the objectives of SDGs 4, 8, and 10, utilizing system alignment, decentralization, infrastructure development, stakeholder engagement, and investment in green and digital skills. The article analyzed the influence of these five strategies. Using cross-national comparative analysis and multidimensional indicators, the study reveals that strong partnerships with labor market stakeholders and investments in green and digital transitions significantly enhance the responsiveness and sustainability of VET systems. However, assumptions related to the decentralization of governance and infrastructure expansion were not consistently supported, indicating the need for a more nuanced approach to policy reform. The findings offer practical implications for VET policy design, emphasizing flexibility, system coherence, and future-oriented planning. This study contributes to the growing body of research that links education systems to sustainable economic development. The research also concludes that innovative management models—combining flexible governance, labor-market intelligence, and digital innovation—are central to modernizing VET and improving its adaptability to future skill needs.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to identify the spatial features of the social-economic development of territorial communities in the context of administrative and financial decentralization. Methodology /approach. The method of system analysis is used in the work – to research the spheres of central-peripheral interactions at the level of territorial communities; method of comparative analysis – to identify trends in the formation and development of interactions between the center and the periphery in communities and the factors that determine them; abstract-logical method – for the formation of theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions from the research; method of graphic visualization, which allows providing a clear presentation of the results of the analysis; sociological survey of chairmen of local councils of territorial communities of Lviv region – to determine the state of development of central-peripheral interactions in their communities. The key role of territorial and systemic approaches to the analysis of core-peripheral interactions in territorial communities is emphasized, which made it expedient to form a research method based on taking into account the conditions for the development of a particular environment and existing spatial restrictions. Results. The article identifies the features of the formation of core-peripheral interactions in the territorial communities of rural areas. It is focused on the formation of derivative core-peripheral interactions that arise in the territorial communities created during the implementation of administrative-territorial reform. On the basis of a systematic and comprehensive analysis, the existing and hidden core-peripheral dependencies were identified and the features of the mutual influence of the centers of the united territorial communities of the rural areas of the Lviv region on the socio-economic development of the community territory were revealed. The problems and risks of the development of the territory of the community are substantiated in the context of the mutual influence of a derivative nature. Originality / scientific novelty. A scientific approach to the identification of central-peripheral interactions in territorial communities was developed, which allows identifying the spatial effects of social, economic, managerial interactions of the center and the periphery within the community. A scientific-and-methodological approach to the assessment of central-peripheral interactions was developed, which provides for the selection of community groups according to certain criteria (community type (urban / rural / urban), community composition, location in the region) and their diagnosis in areas: analysis of strategic documents of local council on the development of central-peripheral interactions in a community; analysis of the management structure of the local council, representation of peripheral communities, compliance of the composition and structure of the governing body with the goals of community development; analysis of budget support for infrastructure development; research of employment opportunities in the community. The application of the approach will reveal the patterns of formation of central-peripheral interactions at the level of territorial communities. Practical value / implications. The results of the study make it possible to have a more comprehensive assessment of the state of the formation of central-peripheral interactions in territorial communities, contribute to the identification of risks of social conflict between different groups in the community and to form recommendations for their activation. The results are recommended for consideration by local governments when preparing proposals for socio-economic development and ensuring the financial capacity of local communities.

Internal migration caused by the war of russia against Ukraine (with the active phase starting in February 2022) has increased the socio-economic burden on the host communities welcoming internally displaced population from the frontline and occupied territories. On the other hand, it intensifies behavioral reflections of local residents on the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The study aims to identify opportunities, challenges, and prospects for IDPs’ adaptation in host communities (a case study of Lviv oblast, Ukraine). The paper conducted a sociological survey among 2,500 respondents in November 2022–February 2023. The results show that the lack of housing, lack of permanent employment, language contradictions, and forced limited contact with relatives who remain in the combat zone are existential barriers to the integration of IDPs into host communities. The study identified such opportunities for the integration of IDPs into the host society: reducing the risk of depopulation of territories, reducing imbalances in the local labor market in certain sectors of the economy, strengthening social cohesion, developing small businesses, and improving social infrastructure. The respective challenges include increased social tension, competition for jobs and housing, shortage of places in preschool institutions, and disproportionate distribution of budget funds between the local population and IDPs. Conflicts between IDPs and local residents, as well as IDPs and local authorities, require a proactive position of local authorities to initiate psychological support programs and create communication platforms for the exchange of individual experiences and discussion of psychological and emotional issues.