BEHAVIORAL AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OF ECONOMIC AGENTS OF UKRAINE IN WAR CONDITIONS

Abstract

In this work, the peculiarities of behavioral and adaptive strategies for economic agents of Ukraine operating under the conditions of a full-scale invasion were thoroughly investigated. The analysis focused on studying the impact of war risks, infrastructure destruction, and macroeconomic instability on the activities of large, medium, and small enterprises. Special attention was paid to enterprises in the housing and communal services sector, including the critically important systems of water supply and drainage. The article reveals the changes occurring in the structure of production, profitability, and financial condition of various groups of economic agents in wartime. The main adaptation trends and features of the functioning of critical infrastructure were determined. It is substantiated that the stability of the economic system directly depends on the combination of internal mobility of enterprises, the effectiveness of state regulation, and the ability of economic sectors to modernize and respond to military challenges. Economic agents demonstrate a high capacity for adaptation and the search for effective behavioral models. Large enterprises remain the backbone of the national economy, concentrating on the most resilient sectors, such as the extraction of crude oil and natural gas. Medium enterprises adapt production to the needs of the food market, particularly the production of food products, beverages, and tobacco products. Small enterprises utilize maximum mobility for the development of consulting and IT services, specifically computer programming and consulting. The sphere of housing and communal services, particularly water supply and drainage, has suffered significant destruction and financial losses, necessitating network modernization, the introduction of innovative management methods, and support. Despite the complex conditions, the main task for these enterprises is ensuring the uninterrupted and high-quality provision of services to the population and the business sector. The effectiveness of the adaptation strategies of economic agents is closely related to regulation and support from the state. Overall, despite the high risks of the state of war and the destructive consequences for the infrastructure, Ukrainian enterprises maintain functional resilience and the capacity for gradual recovery and development.