Zonal features of formation and reserves of increasing the sustainable competitiveness of agricultural enterprises

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the results of the study of zonal features of the formation and reserves of increasing the sustainable competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises. Methodology / approach. In this study, we used such methods: discriminant analysis (to develop a mathematical model for classifying enterprises by the Sustainable Competitiveness Index – SCI); econometric modeling (to develop an econometric model of the dependence of the SCI of agricultural enterprises on the main sub-indices); economic-statistical and monographic (for the assessment and analysis competitiveness of enterprises); abstract-and-logical (for theoretical generalization and analysis of the research results); grapho-analytic (for the visual representation of the obtained results). The economic database of the 5597 agricultural enterprises located in Ukraine, which represent all the soil-climatic zones, was used as the empirical basis. Results. This study presents empirical evidence on the zonal features of the formation of sustainable competitiveness of agricultural enterprises in Ukraine. The level of sustainable competitiveness of agricultural enterprises of the country in the context of three soil-and-climatic zones – the Steppe, Forest-steppe and Polissya was assessed, which allowed us to identify the zonal features of its formation and taking into account this data to determine the priorities for its increase. A discriminant analysis is made based on the results of assessing the competitiveness of agricultural enterprises, which allowed us to build a mathematical model for classifying entities depending on its level. Originality / scientific novelty. The provision on zonal features of formation of sustainable competitiveness of agricultural enterprises on lands of different quality was further developed. As a result of the discriminant analysis it was developed, for the first time, a mathematical model of classification of enterprises for each group, depending on the level of competitiveness. For the first time, a multi-factor linear econometric model of the dependence of SCI from the main sub-indices was developed, the testing of which allowed us to quantify the SCI growth reserves of Ukrainian agricultural enterprises by improving the level of management and/or use of resources and to develop a forecast for increasing the sustainable competitiveness of enterprises in the medium term (until 2025). Practical value / implications. The results of the study can be used for (i) identification of reserves for increasing sustainable competitiveness; (ii) estimation and forecasting the level of competitiveness of agricultural enterprises; (iii) assessment of the relative level of effectiveness of the management of formation of competitiveness.