Subject. This article considers infrastructure as a key factor in the socio-economic development of regions, contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of the population. Objectives. The article aims to systematize theoretical approaches to the interpretation of the concept of Infrastructure, highlight its properties and functions, and develop an original definition of infrastructure. Methods. For the study, I used the diachronic and axiomatic approaches. Results. The article finds that throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, researchers proposed significantly different definitions of the concept of Infrastructure, some of which are open to question. The article offers the author-formulated definition of this concept. Conclusions. At present, there is no universally accepted definition of infrastructure.
Keywords: infrastructure, impact assessment, classification of infrastructure, functions of infrastructure, properties of infrastructure
References:
Singer H.W. International Development: Growth and Change. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1964, 295 p.
Jochimsen R. Theorie der Infrastruktur: Grundlagen der Marktwitschaftlichen Entwicklung. Tübingen, Mohr, 1966, 253 p.
Kheinman S.A. Effektivnost' natsional'noi ekonomiki: istochniki rosta, poteri i rezervy. Vol. 2. [Efficiency of the national economy: sources of growth, losses and reserves. Vol. 2]. Moscow, Institute of Economics of RAS Publ., 2008, 307 p.
Harchaoui T.M., Tarkhani F., Warren P. Public Infrastructure in Canada, 1961–2002. Canadian Public Policy – Analyse de Politiques, 2004, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 303–318. URL: Link
Torrisi G. Public Infrastructure: Definition, Classification and Measurement Issues. Economics, Management, and Financial Markets, 2009, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 100–124. URL: Link
Cohen J.P., Morrison P.C.J. Public Infrastructure Investment, Interstate Spatial Spillovers, and Manufacturing Costs. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2004, vol. 86, iss. 2, pp. 551-560. URL: Link
Kuznetsova A.I. Infrastruktura: voprosy teorii, metodologii i prikladnye aspekty sovremennogo infrastrukturnogo obustroistva. Geoekonomicheskii podkhod [Infrastructure. Theoretical, methodological and applied aspects of modern infrastructure construction. Geoeconomic approach]. Moscow, USSR Publ., 2013, 456 p.
