Evolution of the scientific and methodological approaches to the analysis and assessment of regional socio-economic differentiation

Formation of a holistic and effective methodology of the system-diagnostic approach to studying problems of the development of peripheral territories taking into account the specifics of economy, peculiarities of economic space organization, achieved level of socio-economic development in regions of agricultural-industrial type is a major scientific task. Its consistent solution requires not only searching for ways and tools to consolidate standard and a number of experimental diagnostic procedures, but also verifying their analytical abilities taking into account the specifics of the economic space of the center-peripheral systems of agricultural-industrial regions. The aim of the study is to inventory and characterize the possibilities and disadvantages of existing methodological approaches to the analysis and assessment of regional socio-economic differentiation in the center-periphery system. This will allow not only to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the available relevant methods, but also on this basis to move to the formulation of specific requirements for a modern analytical and diagnostic system for detecting problems of development of peripheral localities, which should take into account the need to screen and monitor a number of new diagnostic areas of analysis. The article considers a number of analytical and diagnostic areas, which are not reflected in theoretical provisions in any of the scientific directions of conceptual support of functioning and development of peripheral territories. Combining them in order to enhance the “permeability” of methods and tools of a system-diagnostic approach to peripheral research involves the development of a special methodology.