Will mesoeconomics become a new direction in economic theory?

Abstract

The article provides an overview of the mesoeconomic method of analysis of modern economy and assesses its scientific potential. Given the specifics of the mesoeconomic approach development, the author examines foreign and domestic ideas around it. Foreign literature uses three approaches to the problem, from the point of view of regional economy, institutional theory, and methodological approach. The article shows that Russian scientists, building on foreign authors’ ideas, have expanded the field of scientific mesoeconomics research, developing several directions separating from each other. Examining the reasons for interest in mesoeconomics and paying tribute to the achievements of Russian science in addressing the problem under consideration, the author explores whether mesoeconomics become a new direction of economic analysis in its current state. The article demonstrates that inclusion of different economic entities in mesoeconomics results in meso-space boundaries blurring and makes the object and subject of mesoeconomic research amorphous. While recognizing evolutionary approach as possible solution to the mesoeconomics’ problems, the author highlights its limitations. Given the need to expand the new phenomena analysis tools, the article concludes that mesoeconomics has significant scientific potential. It needs to determine the nature of entities forming the meso-space, as well as establish the reasons behind their emergence. The author sees the reason in the contradiction generated by modern hyper-competition: the need for continuous innovative leadership contradicts the inability to provide it alone; this is resolved through the emergence of a fundamentally new form of production —inter-production cooperation of specialized legally and economically independent firms.