ECONOMIC SECURITY OF UZBEKISTAN'S REGIONS: A COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VULNERABILITIES, RESILIENCE, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

Economic security at the regional level is an essential component of national economic stability and sustainable development. In Uzbekistan, regional disparities in economic structure, industrial development, employment, infrastructure, resource endowment, and investment capacity create different levels of economic vulnerability and resilience. This study aims to comparatively assess the economic security of Uzbekistan’s regions by examining their economic vulnerabilities, resilience mechanisms, and sustainable development potential. The research employs a multidimensional analytical framework combining comparative analysis, indicator-based assessment, regional typology, and the proposed Regional Economic Security Index (RESI). The analysis identifies resource-dependent regions, densely populated industrial and agricultural regions, emerging industrial regions, and service-oriented economic centers as distinct regional development categories. Official statistical data indicate substantial differences in gross regional product per capita, economic growth, and poverty levels. These disparities demonstrate that economic security cannot be assessed exclusively through aggregate economic output. The study argues that strengthening regional economic security requires economic diversification, employment generation, infrastructure modernization, environmental sustainability, and improved institutional capacity. The findings provide a conceptual foundation for developing differentiated regional economic policies in Uzbekistan.