Social reforms as an instrument of state policy implementation: functional-typological analysis

Abstract

The article conducts a comprehensive functional-typological analysis of social reforms as an instrument for the implementation of state policy in various spheres of public life. It is noted that the necessary form of existence of modern states, including Ukraine, is, according to the functional approach, the interaction of four interrelated spheres – political, economic, social and environmental. It is noted that each of these spheres, according to the typological approach, is characterized by a corresponding set (group) of problems. It is emphasized that for their successful solution it is important to rely on adequate public policy – appropriate types and directions (groups). It is emphasized that social reforms are an effective tool for solving social problems within the framework of state policy.

It is noted that their composition, priority and grouping varied greatly in different periods of Ukraine's existence as an independent state. Therefore, the article carried out their brief review and established compliance with certain types and groups of state policy in certain periods. On the basis of the conducted analysis, four blocks of social reforms and their following groups are allocated: political reforms – political system and state system of the country, legal, in the field of humanitarian, defense and foreign policy; economic reforms – transformational (market), regulatory, macroeconomic, focused on the development of forms of spatial organization of the economy, the financial sector and sectors of the real economy; social reforms – in the areas of demographic policy, human development and consumer protection; environmental reforms – in the areas of natural resource and environmental policy.

In a practical sense, it is noted that since social problems are closely related to each other, they should be solved comprehensively – on the basis of a combination of different types of state policy and relevant reforms. It is noted that for these purposes, following the example of foreign countries, it is important to form special teams to support reforms.