PRINCIPLES AND FEATURES OF THE FORMATION OF A CROSS-BORDER CLUSTER AS AN EFFECTIVE FORM OF ECONOMIC COOPERATION OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Increasing the business activity and competitiveness of economic entities in the border regions of Ukraine requires, among other things, ensuring close and long-term cooperation of these entities with their existing and potential counter-parties in the neighbouring countries. As shown by foreign and advanced domestic business experience, the formation and development of cross-border clusters is an effective form of cross-border cooperation between enterprises. Joining a cross-border cluster usually gives its members additional competitive advantages and reduces the risk of their operation. Considering this, the purpose of the study was to establish the principles and highlight the features of the formation of a cross-border cluster as an effective form of economic cooperation of neighbouring countries. The main principles that should be considered in the formation of cross-border clusters are identified. In particular, these principles include voluntariness, mutual benefit, long-term efficiency, sustainability, settlement etc. The main ways of the formation of cross-border clusters are established. The classification of these clusters, depending on the ways of their formation, is carried out. The importance of the information support of the process of formation and development of a cross-border cluster is shown, in particular, when substantiating the expediency of its formation or expansion. A sequence of the assessment of economic feasibility and efficiency of a cross-border cluster formation has been developed. Indicators for assessing the impact of a cross-border cluster formation on the level of the innovation activity of their participants are proposed. The expediency of applying the matrix of analysis of the consequences of a cross-border cluster formation is substantiated. It is shown that this matrix can be an effective tool for determining the economic consequences of joining the cluster of each of its members. The criterion of expediency of such entry is defined. It is proposed to use the growth rate of the profit of each enterprise that is a member of a cross-border cluster association as such a criterion. The application of the obtained results in the practice of enterprises that are considering the possibility of joining a cross-border cluster will increase the validity of decisions on such entry.