Игорь Николаевич Молчанов

Purpose: study in retrospective terms of the process of formation and development of the regional economy as a branch of economic science, the features of its subject and method; determining the place of the regional economy in the system of economic knowledge and the complex of regional sciences. Methodology and methods. On the basis of theoretical concepts and terminology of regional studies, formation peculiarities of the methodological apparatus and analytical tools were considered. The content and structure, the logic of development of the regional economy as a scientific discipline studying the spatial aspects of the national economy functions are introduced in detail. Results. The reasons for transforming the object of the regional economy have been identified. The analysis of the conditions that determine the specificity of the formation of intraand interterritorial relations in the Soviet period and the present time is completed. Key factors affecting the functioning of the economy and the social sphere of the regions of Russia during the period of market transformations have been identified. Thus, it made it possible to take a fresh look at the object of the regional economy. Scientific novelty consists in making clarifications to understanding of the subject and object of the regional economy. As a result, the authors made clusions concerning the need for further regional studies and more substantive use of the accumulated theoretical knowledge in the field of economic regionalization, as well as on the location of productive forces and the disposable potential of territories in order to ensure accelerated economic growth and achieve a balanced functioninE economy of the Russian regions.