Establishment of Information Economy Under the Influence of Scientific and Technical Progress

The authors analyze the notion and tendencies of development of information economy. It is shown that production of information technologies, improvement of global communications, and the tendency for growth of production of high-tech goods are a logical consequence of transition to the post-industrial society, civilization development, and expanded use of the processes related to informatization of economy. Quick global processes of globalization raise interest to theoretical consideration of peculiarities of information economy and empirical study of the influence of the scientific and technical progress on dynamics of development of socio-economic, political, and cultural spheres of life of the modern society. Topicality of this research is predetermined by insufficient theoretical substantiation and empirical contribution of assessment of the scientific and technical progress into establishment of information economy. The main purpose of this article is to determine the perspectives of establishment of information economy in Russia. For determining the factors of establishment of information economy, the authors use theoretical methods of research: study and generalization of the notion “information economy” and its components; analysis of statistical indicators of the countries which economy is based on wide usage of informatization. Study of the complex process of society’s transition from industrial to post-industrial mode is performed. This allowed reflecting genesis of information economy and peculiarities of its establishment in Russia and the world. The main tendencies and strategic landmarks of development of information economy in Russia are determined. As a result, the problem is determined – digital (information) inequality – a new type of social differentiation that comes from different possibilities of using new ICT. Such inequality negatively influences Russia’s competitiveness and the living standards of its citizens. The measures are determined which can – with consecutive implementation – overcome negative consequences of information inequality and eventually eliminate it.