Abstract
This article considers the theoretical and methodological foundations and experience in assessing the development of some of the most famous integration associations in the world. In modern conditions, practically no country in the world can effectively develop without interacting with other countries. Countries are united based on their political, economic, geopolitical or geoeconomic interests. To realize these interests, various integration groups are being created. Today, there are about 300 regional trade agreements in force in the world, including agreements on economic integration, on the formation of customs unions and agreements with a partial scope of action, covering a certain list of products. The goals of countries' participation in integration associations may differ depending on the level of their economic development. At the same time, successful integration associations have a "core of integration" – a country or a group of countries that are the driving force behind the integration processes. Integration potential is a combination of natural, industrial, labor, financial, intellectual and other resources of the countries participating in the integration association, the joint mutually beneficial use of which can provide an integration effect, expressed in additional benefits and advantages for the participating countries. The idea of comparing integration associations by a set of indicators is not new. Similar studies were carried out by many international organizations, research institutes, and regulatory bodies of integration associations in order to assess how the creation of this or that integration group corresponds to the interests of the international economy as a whole.