Russia: Digital Economy or Industrial and Information Economy?

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to determine the economic nature, targets, nature of the modern economic system of Russia. Methodologically, we rely on a system-reproduction approach. Under the economic system, we understand social reproduction, which is considered to be the interaction of natural, economic and socio-cultural (ideology, law, mentality, religion, morality, aesthetics, etc.) components. The country’s socio-economic system is also understood as a single economic and social space of the Russian Federation. At the same time, much attention is given to the territorial aspect of the economic analysis. As a result of research by way of polemical reasoning, we formulated the idea that the modern Russian economy is industrial-information in its nature. The concept of the digital economy itself is interpreted in two ways – as a set of information and communication tools and as a sector (segment) of the economy. The importance of the development of material production, including industry as a branch with strong innovative capabilities, is emphasized. A range of issues is being raised that reveal the competitive advantages of the Russian economy as an industrial-informational one (natural resources, vast territory, preservation of some features of ethnic passionarity in a nation, etc.). It is noted in the conclusion, that these points should be theoretically understood and a long-term state policy should be based on all levels of the socio-economic system. At the same time, the need for state regulation is emphasized, aimed at taking protective measures to safeguard high-tech industries with increasing returns, developing information and communication technologies to solve the problem of transition to a new type of social reproduction – the industrial-informational society.