CEE countries demonstrate specific type of macrofiscal vulnerability. Functional convergence with so called «old EU» takes place with shift toward higher level of GDP redistribution through budget and higher level of public debt. Such fiscal expansion coexists with high CEE countries globalization level, real and institutional convergence. But, quality of institutions, for example government efficiency, is still low then in «old EU». Institutional convergence gap with reached fiscal convergence are challenging for further development in the region. CEE countries may choose between slower real convergence, narrowing fiscal reactions on shock, harder fiscal limits for investment into quality of institutions. It is stressed that CEE countries should choose «smaller government» that invests in quality of institutions. Such policy helps to avoid future debt unsustainability and support real convergence.

Key words:
CEE countries, fiscal expansion, quality of institutions, real convergence, institutional convergence, globalization.

Aspects of decentralization of public finances are examined. The basis of the concept is the provision regarding public finances as an outpost of the economic sovereignty. Expansive and restrictive types, budget and tax, as well as debt instruments of public finance management are analyzed. The expediency of experience by introducing a new institutional architectonics micropolicy in fiscal policy, public finances and budget is substantiated. When combining the recession with inflation, it is important to use both incentive and dissuasive financial instruments simultaneously. The positions regarding the formation of the efficient financial system in Ukraine, that are blocked by the ideological and psychological disqualification of a producer and central and local government, as well as of the unwillingness or unawareness to constrict zone of fiscal contradictions, are formulated. This situation can be changed provided the socialization of mentality based on awareness of the necessity of obtaining a part of GDP and acceptance of responsibility for the tax price of public goods and transfer payments.

Key words:
Public finances, decentralization, tax instruments, fiscal policy, social finances.

The concept and trends of regional development in Slovakia are analyzed in the article. Based on the analysis of data on key macro- and microeconomic, environmental and socio-demo Figureic indicators, differences within regions of Slovakia are singled out. The article describes the evolutionary features of regional development policy, its institutional framework and implementation mechanisms in the country. The call for action to ensure higher levels of financial autonomy on regional level is based on analysis of financial autonomy of regional units. The significant regional disparities within regions are still actual, despite considerable efforts done within cohesion policy.

Key words:
Regional development, the concept of regional development in Slovakia, the financial autonomy of the region, regional disparities.

The article elaborates on the concepts of region and regionalization. The authors show ways for adopting the European system for unification of regional units (NUTS) in Ukraine. The authors systemize and classification European countries into unitary, regional and federal states; highlight the conditions for re-gionalization; and study the aspects of subsidiarity in the context of the on-going decentralization. The authors provide substantiation for approaches to reformation of the administrative and territorial structure of Ukraine and develop the historical-economic approach to its regionalization, according to which Ukraine is viewed as a unitary state comprising 19 krays: Donbass, Galicia-Bukovina, Sloboda Ukraine, Land of Kyiv, Central Ukraine, Black Sea Region, Pontic Steppe, Left-Bank Ukraine, Podolia, Right-Bank Ukraine, Carpathians and Zakarpattia, Pryazovia, Eastern Volhynia, Western Volhynia, Western Polissia, Budjak, Eastern Polissia, Land of Severia, Taurica.

Key words:
Administrative-territorial structure, decentralization, kray, nomenclature of territorial units for statistics, NUTS, reform, subsidiarity.

The authors consider the forms of citizen participation in the state and re-gional administration. The basic principles of democratic participation of citizens in local government and interaction with the public, developed by international organizations, are underlined. Formation of the legal framework for public partici-pation in Ukraine and its disadvantages are shown. The practice of public partici-pation in Ukraine, especially experience 2015–2016 as for the reporting of main managers of funds of the regional budget in Ternopil region, is analyzed and its problems are shown. The main directions of improvement of mechanisms and forms of public participation in the regional administration in Ukraine on the ba-ses of the synthesis of existing international standards and analysis of public participation practice are suggested.

Key words:
Democracy, interaction with public authorities, citizen participation, forms of citizen participation, public reporting, and development of public activity.