TRADE IN THE SYSTEM OF SATISFYING THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF AN UNSTABLE ECONOMY

Abstract

The analysis of the role and place of trade in the system of meeting the needs of Ukrainian consumers under conditions of an unstable economy has been conducted, revealing the development characteristics and trends in the volume and structure of wholesale and retail turnover in Ukraine from 2017 to 2023. The article aims to examine theoretical approaches to interpreting trade as a socio-economic system, clarify its structure and the composition of its elements in an organizational-functional aspect, and analyze the main functions of trade, as well as the current state and challenges in their implementation within an unstable economy. It has been proven that meeting the population's demand for consumer goods depends on each sub-sector of the domestic economy's "Trade" sector and all the engaged segments. The study substantiates the advisability of considering trade as a socio-economic system that integrates the subsystems of domestic and foreign trade, structured according to functional characteristics in line with the Classification of Economic Activities (KVED) and divided into wholesale trade, retail trade, and trade mediation; each component's activity is ensured through the orderly interaction of elements of the organizational structure, including business entities, infrastructure supporting their activities, as well as management and control bodies. An organizationalfunctional structure of trade as a socio-economic system is proposed. The main functions of trade in wholesale, retail, and foreign trade sectors are summarized. The trend is confirmed regarding the predominant focus of enterprises on wholesale trade and individual entrepreneurs on retail trade, creating an organic symbiosis of traders in the chains of consumer goods movement from production to circulation and, ultimately, to consumers. The need for innovative transformations in supply chains based on the interaction of domestic manufacturers, foreign trade enterprises (acting as representatives of foreign producers), and entities (both legal and natural persons) in Ukraine's wholesale and retail trade sectors is emphasized. It is proposed to view supply chain management as a process of integrating and coordinating all involved economic entities and activities based on cooperation, efficient business processes, and shared commercial information, with the goal of creating highly efficient commodity distribution systems. Further research is warranted on the intersubjective interactions of foreign, wholesale, and retail trade operators and their partners in integrated supply chains for consumer goods in the wartime economy.