ИСТИНА

The intensification of cross-border interaction between "twin cities" in recent years has given full reason to consider them as cross-border urban agglomerations. However, not all of them function as an "internal" urban agglomeration, providing the potential for economies of scale. The author tried to characterize the spatial specifics of the most economically successful cross-border urban agglomerations of the Mercosur countries, in which, on the one hand, integration almost completely abolished the barrier function of the border, on the other, led to their economic development. For this purpose, the author analyzed the territorial organization of intra-city business in border cities – in particular, specific "border industries", such as trade, hotel and restaurant business, real estate, etc. With the help of GIS technologies and field observations, these cities shopping streets, which are common to the Mercosur, as well as the concentration areas of "border industries" were identified. According to its configuration, three types of cross-border agglomerations in Mercosur were discovered: trade, transit, and multifunctional. The first one contains a complete convergence of the bordering cities commercial centers (Rivera, Uruguay). Such cities mostly are specializing in low-income retail trade. Consequently, the positive economic impact of integration in such cities is limited. "Transit" cross-border urban agglomerations demonstrate independent development of commercial centers of bordering cities and specialization in "non-border" industries. Despite both cities often show a positive economic dynamics, the role of integration in this case is insignificant. Finally, the "multifunctional cross-border urban agglomerations" (“Triple Border” of Iguazu) represent the most intensive use of the border position with a strong shift in specialization in "border" industries, while each border city has an alternative economic center that possesses a full range of economic sectors. On their basis, economies of scale are possible, and, therefore, this type of urban integration can be considered the most positive.