Evolution of approaches to economy diversification in regional development studies

. The article determines that the diversification questions in Ukraine are still of hardly limited elaboration and require further study with a focus on aspects of old-industrial regions’ economy competitiveness recovery in global economic environment at the basis of «new» industrial policy concept implementation. It is proved that ensuring of economy effective diversification of old-industrial regions of Ukraine requires the comprehensive understanding of the essence of this process, which formed on the basis of scientific knowledge evolution and restructuring experience, accumulated by global practice. The evolution of approaches to economy diversification in the regional development studies is considered. It was revealed that the peculiarity of studies of structural changes questions in old-industrial regions at the post-soviet area, in particular in Ukraine, is a prevailing accent on the sectoral structure improving and the export potential diversification for these regions. It was found that for the foreign researchers of economy diversification problems are characterized by a focus on: innovational directions of economic activity; revealing the potential of local traditions and global markets requirements; the relationship issues of regional economy efficiency and its economic diversity. The essence of old-industrial region’s economy diversification is specified and the peculiarities of diversification process in these regions are revealed. The factors that influence on the process and determine of diversification final result, are established. The necessity of developing a Strategy of economy diversification of old-industrial regions, which should include the optimal directions selection for increasing of their competitiveness in the global economic space, is determined.