TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AS A FACTOR OF ENHANCING REGIONAL POTENTIAL: FROM CLASSICAL THEORIES TO CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES
Abstract
This article examines transport infrastructure as a strategic driver for enhancing the regional potential of Ukraine in the context of globalization, digital transformation, post-war reconstruction, and contemporary socio-economic challenges. It explores the evolution of theoretical foundations, ranging from classical location and agglomeration theories to modern concepts of sustainable, endogenous, and network-driven growth, emphasizing the transformation of spatial development paradigms. The analysis reveals the multifaceted impact of transport infrastructure on economic productivity, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and territorial integration, underscoring its decisive role in strengthening investment attractiveness, facilitating labor mobility, and reducing regional disparities. Particular attention is paid to the “infrastructure dilemma” – the strategic choice between anticipatory (ex-ante) and reactive (ex-post) development models – with a focus on their balanced integration to ensure both long-term competitiveness and short-term responsiveness. The study stresses that effective infrastructure policy must combine macro-level strategic planning with micro-level adaptability, align with principles of economic efficiency and social equity, and incorporate environmental resilience and climate adaptation. In the Ukrainian context, infrastructure is positioned not merely as a supportive facility but as a transformative instrument capable of catalyzing structural change, accelerating European integration, stimulating innovation, and enabling inclusive growth. The paper also highlights the importance of public–private partnerships, state regulation, and international cooperation, showing that alignment with EU strategies such as TEN-T can foster modernization, enhance cross-border connectivity, and integrate national networks into the global transport system. Ultimately, the development of transport infrastructure is presented as both a public good and a strategic resource whose advancement is essential for achieving balanced regional growth, reducing socio-economic asymmetries, and ensuring sustainable, innovation-driven development in the long term.
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