The analysis of space category in economic studies

Abstract

Space is one of the key and controversial (in terms of content) categories in economics. It is assumed that the methodological basis of spatial development concept, and, correspondingly, the very concept of space itself are classical (mercantilism) and neoclassical (price theory) theories. However, until now the understanding of its nature and its role in creating and transforming modern socio-economic relations remains a debatable issue. The key method of analysis in this work is semantic analysis. The Authors attempt, on the one hand, to reveal a retrospective transformation of space concept, and on the other, to identify the key theoretical and methodological approaches to this phenomenon in modern research. The analysis results in a number of valuable findings. First, the authors identify a synthetic nature of concept evolution, which consists in a specific absorption of previously proposed models and space describing provisions. Secondly, the authors identify the main approaches to space study, for which the determining criterion is the nature of socio-economic relations formed by economic agents, and the processes that these agents implement in various spaces. Thirdly, the authors prove that modern concept of socio-economic space allows for a broader description of interactions of economic agents in translocation aspect. Thus, the scientific significance of the research consists in expanding knowledge approaches to defining the category of space, as well as its analysis in modern economic research.