DIGITAL ECONOMY AND DIGITALIZATION IN HISTORICAL RETROSPECT

Abstract: The article presents the author's concept of the digital economy as a scientific direction (digital economics), focused on the study of the fundamental causes and consequences of the digital transformation of the real economy, increasing the share of digital products and services in it, as well as new forms of business based on digital technologies (digital economy). The fundamental properties of information presented in digital format on various media (electronic, optical, mechanical, etc.) are noted. Their manifestations in the real economy are shown. The historical continuity of the idea of digitalization of the economy and culture as a whole, the gradual displacement of analog technologies and devices by their digital substitutes with the development and cheapening of digital technologies is traced (indicating key dates and events). Connections and intersections with related scientific fields, including knowledge economics, information economics and knowledge management, are noted