Economic Essence of Infrastructure

The purpose of the article is the study of the economic essence of infrastructure and systematization of scientific approaches to understanding the concept of 'infrastructure'. The approaches of scientists to the interpretation of the infrastructure essence were systematized. In particular, the six directions of interpretation of the infrastructure essence were distinguished: functional-basic, institutional, block-aggregation, service-auxiliary, composite, structural. The existence of these directions is due to differences in the interpretation of the components and functions of infrastructure by scientists. According to the author's opinion, infrastructure is the organic unity of institutions, mechanisms and instruments that ensure the effective functioning and development of the economic system. The analysis of the basic functions of the infrastructure was carried out. It was determined that the infrastructure performs two basic functions: functional – the creation of general conditions for the operation of elements and the development of the economic system; controlling and regulating – external (state institutions) and internal (owners and administration) control and regulation of the elements of economic system to improve the effectiveness of their activities.