PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS AND LEGAL INTERESTS OF DEMOGRAPHICALLY VULNERABLE POPULATION GROUPS: ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL DIMENSION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article examines the protection of the rights and legal interests of demographically vulnerable population groups through the prism of their impact on the economic development and post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. It is substantiated that demographic vulnerability has not only a socio-legal, but also a distinct economic meaning, as it is associated with a decrease in the level of employment, increasing poverty, increasing the burden of dependency, narrowing the tax base and increasing spending on social support, healthcare and public services. It has been established that children, persons with disabilities, the elderly, internally displaced persons and other demographically vulnerable groups are an important element of human capital, on which the stability of the labor market, the restoration of productive resources and the economic capacity of the state depend. It has been proven that effective administrative and legal support for the rights of these groups should combine procedural accessibility, targeted economic support mechanisms, the development of inclusive services, employment stimulation and coordination of social policy with the needs of reconstruction. It is concluded that the protection of demographically vulnerable groups is a necessary prerequisite for preserving labor potential, reducing socio-economic losses and ensuring long-term post-war development of Ukraine. Research methods. The methodological basis of the study is dialectical, systemic-structural, formal-logical, comparative-legal methods, methods of analysis and synthesis, which allowed a comprehensive study of the financial and economic mechanisms for ensuring the stability of critical infrastructure in conditions of crisis transformations. The expected scientific result is to clarify the concept, content and features of ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of demographically vulnerable population groups: the administrative and legal dimension of economic development and post-war recovery of Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to study the issues of ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of demographically vulnerable population groups: the administrative and legal dimension of economic development and post-war recovery of Ukraine. Conclusions. The study found that demographically vulnerable groups should be considered as a separate legal and economic category, which is not identical to the general category of “vulnerable groups”, since its content is determined primarily by demographic characteristics and the life cycle of a person, and the legal consequence is the need for enhanced administrative and procedural guarantees of accessibility, priority, reasonable accommodation and proactive provision of services. The study shows that in the economic dimension, demographic vulnerability manifests itself through a decrease in labor potential, an increase in the dependency burden, increased social security costs and greater sensitivity to administrative barriers, and therefore it directly affects the quality of human capital, budgetary sustainability and the pace of economic recovery. It has been established that migration processes, poverty, population aging, security threats and institutional barriers increase the number and depth of demographic vulnerability, and prolonged martial law further worsens the situation due to increasing poverty, reducing the labor force and narrowing domestic demand. As a result, the tax base, investment potential and the state's ability to quickly recover after the war are weakened. Therefore, an effective solution to the problem under study is possible only if administrative and economic mechanisms of influence are combined: simplified and accessible procedures, interagency coordination, digital inclusion, free legal aid, as well as targeted social transfers, budget financing, employment programs, housing support and other long-term instruments that reduce the risk of poverty and social exclusion of demographically vulnerable groups. It is such a comprehensive model that should become the basis of state policy in the field of economic development and post-war recovery of Ukraine.