Abstract:The complex analysis of the main stages of Ukraine's agricultural sector development for the independence period has been done in the paper. It was established, that institutional changes in the agricultural sector of economy occurred concerning following institutions: private property, state regulation, pricing, social capital, competition. The peculiarities of land and property private ownership forming as agri-reforms basis have been determined. Post-Soviet institutions destruction caused rapid decrease of economic development and rural population welfare at the first stage of transformations. The main tendencies of agrarian sector functioning under market conditions, providing growth of the agricultural production and export potential of Ukraine have been identified. It was proved, that progressive economic changes did not provide similar results in rural areas development. As a result, the necessity of focusing on humancentric model of rural development was grounded.

The purpose of the study is to summarize the existing theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the essence of the notion 'rural economics' and to reason that multifunctionality is a precondition of stable development. The methodology of research is based on a systematic approach, according to which rural economics is considered to be an open type of social and economic system that transforms exogenous and endogenous potential of rural territories into a certain level of rural development. The methodology of rural economic development is based on the following methodological approaches: economic, ecological, social and institutional, each one of which completes the idea of interdependence of rural economics and its territorial basis, i.e. rural area. The subject of study is a scientific-theoretical and applied principles of rural economy development. The results of the study demonstrate that agro-centric model of rural economics, the development of which focuses on formation and support of goods safety, is being displaced by multifunctional model in conditions of strengthening of human-centric priorities of the social development. Contents of this model lies in the perception of the rural economy as a diversified, multifunctional socioeconomic system, whose development aimed at the welfare of the rural population. As the goal of rural economies is ensuring high welfare standards of the rural population, providing interconnection problems in the functioning of the system of rural development policy. It's proved that the sustainable development of the rural economy it provides for the implementation of the set of economic and socially important function that displays the development of socioeconomic system beyond the actual production and contributes to its focus on material and non-material welfare of the rural population. Qualitative changes in the properties of the rural economy aiming at self-development and self-organization, maintaining equilibrium, the interaction of all subsystems, requiring a phased increase in the capacity of individuals, households, communities and businesses; further increase links between towns and villages. One of the preconditions for the formation and implementation of multifunctional model of rural economy defined set of social and economic relations that occur in rural areas and connected to their inner potential and human capital, and are aimed at the welfare of the rural population. The article stressed that sustainable development of the rural economy is possible only if economic growth combined with social transformations that accompanied solving socially important issues. However, it is concluded that neorealism is a conceptual framework for evolutionary transition methodologies for sustainable rural development to a higher level of quality-"reasonable" development. Practical significance of made theoretical and methodological conclusions regarding selected aspects of the research is to build a philosophical vision of priorities and promising model of rural e...

The article is devoted to the problem of gender inequality on rural areas and argued the necessity of forming gender sensitive rural development policy. Based on existing theories of institutionalism, the authors characterized gender as a social institute, forming the structure of rural society. The importance of gender equality for progressive rural growth of rural areas, effective use of women's human capital in development of rural communities is underlined. Methodological frameworks of research are formed on the basis of rural development, gender economy and institutional theories. Adopted methodological approach of United Nations Development Program to gender inequality index calculation is used for integrated evaluation the gender inequality in reproductive health, political empowerment, and economic activity on labor market in rural areas. Research results indicate permanent character of the gender inequality problem in rural society and it dependence from situation in rural economy system. Gender asymmetries in economic activity and educational attainment of rural population, it participation in political initiatives and decision-making, demographic processes caused the regional differentiation of gender inequality problem. Indicated gender problems are characterized as the challenges for growth of rural areas and should be taken into account in the process of forming rural development policy, transforming it from gender neutral to gender sensitive. Key points of such a policy are implementation of the gender mainstreaming concept in rural development policy; forming an inclusive model of rural economy development and social cohesion; diversification of rural labor market; stimulating transfer of knowledge and innovation.

Rural areas play an important role in the national economy, the environment and society, contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and the sustainable income of peasants. The growth of production rates by large agroholdings, which is mainly specialized on the crop production, does not contribute to the development of rural areas. The purpose of the article is to develop measures to ensure the sustainable development of rural areas. In the article, based on the method of comparative analysis, various aspects of programs on sustainable development of rural areas have been researched; economic development of rural territories for 2010-2016 has been studied on the basis of sociological and statistical data. The results of this research include the development of mechanisms for implementation of the sustainable development policy of rural areas, including promising directions of local areas development and innovative solutions to environmental and social problems.

No abstract