The arguments regarding the expediency of using a synergistic methodology to understand the prerequisites, alternative directions and expected effects of regional development have been presented in the article. From the point of view of a synergistic approach, regions have a special status in the context of their relationship, on the one hand, with the system of the national economy (they act as an integral part of which primarily in the administrative and territorial aspect), and on the other hand, with the world economy (in the context of the processes of global regionalization and primarily due to cross-border cooperation programs). In the same way, individual business entities, having a territorial attachment and based on the use of local productive forces, can at the same time be part of various interregional associations, work both to strengthen the competitive advantages of the region, and fulfil national economic development tasks. The heterogeneity of regional systems, the presence of disproportions in the indicators of economic growth and the general asymmetry of regional development can be considered as signs of its non-linearity and, at the same time, as basic prerequisites for the establishment of cross-border cooperation, arising of emergent characteristics and effect of synergy in complex regional systems. The initiation of cross-border cooperation is associated with the passage of the “bifurcation point”, after which it is possible to achieve more advantageous spatio and temporal combinations of productive forces, which will ensure the maximum benefit from participation in interregional associations of various levels. It has been proposed to interpret the synergistic effect of cross-border cooperation as the result of the correct choice of attractive goals in the process of evolution of the regional system, which can be effectively achieved both by using its internal potential and by establishing mutually beneficial foreign economic ties, which ultimately leads to a rapid growth of economic indicators, social and environmental efficiency of the functioning of the regional economic complex, reducing the level of entropy (as a manifestation of disorganization and disorder), strengthening the competitive advantages of the region and increasing its importance in the context of the implementation of national strategic goals (including European integration policy).
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