Shandova Nataliia, Doctor of Economics, Professor, The Head of the Department of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Economic Security, Kherson National Technical University, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-6278-1143
e-mail: shandova.nataliya@kntu.edu.ua

Oliinyk Nataliia, PhD (Engineering), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Economic Security, Kherson National Technical University, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-1019-5708
e-mail: oliynyk.nataliya@kntu.edu.ua

Borovik Liubov, Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Economic Security, Kherson National Technical University, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0001-7200-0497
e-mail: borovik.liubov@kntu.edu.ua

Tarasyuk Alla, PhD (Economics), Associate Professor, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics, Entrepreneurship and Economic Security, Kherson National Technical University, Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0001-7765-502X
e-mail: tarasyuk.ala@kntu.edu.ua

Social Investment in the System of Ensuring Economic Security and Development of Post-Conflict Regions

Abstract. Introduction. The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of social investment as a strategic instrument for ensuring economic security and sustainable recovery of territories affected by armed conflicts. The relevance of the study is conditioned by the critical vulnerability of post-conflict regions, large-scale destruction of social infrastructure, deep labour market deformation, and the urgent need to transition from passive humanitarian aid distribution to proactive mechanisms for building long-term economic resilience.

Purpose. The study aims to substantiate the adaptive-security function of social investments, determine their systemic role in restoring and modernizing regional economies, and develop a toolkit for their practical implementation.

Results. The findings indicate that social investment should be viewed not as current consumptive expenditure but as a catalyst for long-term economic potential and a driver of structural changes. Five interconnected components of the adaptive-security function are identified: preventive, stabilizing, adaptive, institutional, and transformative. A functional classification of social investments, differentiated by time horizon and targeted impact on the security environment, is developed. A conceptual model of the cascading transformation of investment resources into economic security is constructed, featuring a positive feedback loop – the «resilience spiral». Key implementation risk groups (managerial, economic, social, institutional) are identified with mitigation measures, and an indicator system for empirical model verification is formulated.

Conclusions. The results can be applied by state and local authorities in developing comprehensive post-war recovery strategies, optimizing international assistance programs, enhancing public-private partnership mechanisms, and by scholars and analytical centers for monitoring the effectiveness of socially oriented investment programs at the regional level.

Keywords: social investment, economic security, post-conflict regions, adaptive-security function, economic resilience, social capital, regional development, resilience.

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