MYKHAILO PTUKHA'S ROLE IN THE FORMATION OF THE UKRAINIAN SCHOOL OF STATISTICS: ASSESSING THE INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE

Abstract

Under the current conditions of global transformations and the military challenges faced by Ukraine in 2022–2026, there is an urgent need to verify and adapt classical methodological approaches to statistical analysis. Understanding the intellectual heritage of the outstanding scholar Mykhailo Ptukha makes it possible not only to reconstruct the historical development of Ukrainian statistical thought, but also to identify sustainable analytical tools for modeling contemporary processes of population reproduction, migration, and labor market transformation. The purpose of the article is to provide a systematic generalization, critical review, and conceptual systematization of existing scholarly research on Mykhailo Ptukha's intellectual and organizational contribution to the formation of the foundations of Ukrainian and global statistics, with a view to its constructive application in the contemporary research environment. To ensure the scientific validity of the study's conclusions, the research is based on a comparative analysis of the works of domestic and foreign scholars combined with a critical examination of Mykhailo Ptukha's fundamental primary sources.
The key areas of Mykhailo Ptukha's activity are systematized, including institutional development, methodological innovations, approaches to mortality and marriage analysis, as well as principles of demographic forecasting. A conceptual model of his scholarly achievements is developed, encompassing six methodological domains, including methods for smoothing defective data and constructing life tables. The relevance of his legacy for modeling demographic processes under the conditions of the full-scale Russian invasion, accompanied by mass migration flows, a population reproduction crisis, and distortions in the structure of labor resources, is substantiated. The potential application of cohort methods in developing strategies for the post-war reconstruction of the state is also identified.
Mykhailo Ptukha's scientific achievements are of significant practical importance for modeling demographic processes, migration scenarios, and crisis forecasting, particularly under martial law conditions. The application of these approaches will contribute to the creation of a reliable analytical framework for effective public administration, social infrastructure planning, and the development of post-war recovery strategies for Ukraine. The theoretical generalization of the scholar's work from a decolonial perspective makes it possible to reinterpret the origins of Ukrainian statistics as a distinctive European school, thereby strengthening Ukraine's intellectual subjectivity within the global scientific community.