摘要：The efficient system of public administration, comprehensive, rational and effective use of all existing territorial resources are impossible without a system versatile assessment of the existing socio-economic potential of the territories, on the basis of which the priority directions of socio-economic development of the country, region, individual territory, city are determined. The main driver of development of a certain territory (region) is administrative cities (regional centers, cities of regional and district significance), which due to economic and geographical, natural resource, social and environmental potentials act as points (centers) of regional development, and directly affect the general potential, positioning and competitive advantages of the territory as a whole among the regional economic entities of Ukraine. Administrative centers acquire in this context particular importance for socio-economic development of the regions. In the presented materials the importance of the city of Kharkiv in the economic and social life of the region is considered, the positioning of the city of Kharkiv and individual large cities of Ukraine at the regional, national and international levels is studied.
