Modernization of the mechanism for financing rural development in Ukraine

Abstract

Rural areas occupy the major part of the territory of Ukraine, but they are characterized by low levels of socio-economic development, limitations in the amount and quality of public services, negative demographic trends. The purpose of the article is to systematize modern means of financing rural development in Ukraine and to identify problems of their application by local governments. The authors proposed to improve the mechanism for financing rural development by active use its budgetary, credit and investment instruments. The prevalence of budgetary funding, whose limitation constrained rural development, was proven. Modern approaches to financing rural development were stated based on broadening community involvement in local budgeting, as well as in attracting investment resources. It has been found out that government subventions are the most powerful support instrument for rural development in the spheres of infrastructure, education, health care, etc. The possibilities of financing rural development through the development budgets under financial decentralization have been investigated. It was noted that the use of participatory budgeting and other forms of project finance most clearly demonstrated real democratic transformations in local finance in Ukraine. The proposals for the use of PPP agreements, crowdfunding, and international funds’ grant programs for financing rural development were provided.