THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
The article presents the results of investigation of the economic system development mechanism. Estimation was made with due account of imposed limitations on market forces’ actions and the influence of knowledge as an economic factor. The author proves the growing influence of intellectual component of knowledge economy and relocation of science and innovation to the center of development regulation (that covers regions as well). The processes of reorganization of sectors around knowledge production and restructuring of national and regional economies around the sphere of information distribution are shown. The hypothesis on emerging of contradictions within one factor (labour) in different economic sectors - between labour in real and financial sectors - is brought forward. Contradictions inside labour factor are connected to its intellectualization and changes in the investments form - placement of funds into knowledge. A new process of knowledge reproduction is described. Results of this research can be used in the development of the economic theory methodology and in the implementation of regional economic policy.