Theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of the Economic history of Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the article. To carry out the analysis of the basic theoretical-methodological and sourcestudying problems of the economic history of Ukraine, in particular: determination of the problem of informativeness, representativeness; the reliability of the source database; scientific critique of large arrays of sources and peculiarities of using the whole range of historical sources in the study of economic history of Ukraine problems in different historical epochs, as well as the possibilities of involving scientific tools of other sciences to solve certain research problems. Methods of specific scientific activity, methods of empirical research and general logical methods were used in the article. Main results. The article describes the main theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of the economic history of Ukraine. It was noted the contradictions of the process of development of economic history in Ukraine in particular, the lack of proper scientific cooperation between historians and economists. Also, it was emphasized, that the institutionalization of the economic history of Ukraine and the complex interdisciplinary approach to the methodology of studying problems of the economic history thanks to the borrowing of theories and methods from other sciences, make it possible to achieve a specific goal and research objectives and allow gaining new knowledge. The most informative sources for different periods of economic history of Ukraine were identified and the theoretical-methodological problems of their use were analyzed. Conclusions. The analysis of the main theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of the economic history of Ukraine, conducted in the article, showed the necessity of a complex and interdisciplinary nature of the choice of both methodological approaches and actually, the choice of the source base for such researches. An important paradigm of scientific studies in economic history is the use by researchers the full range of sources, which are typical to different historical periods and the choice of appropriate methodological basis, which allows to determine the informativeness, representativeness, reliability of the source base, to conduct scientific critique of large arrays of sources, and, most importantly, allow to solve set by researcher specific scientific tasks. The modern development of scientific studies in the economic history of Ukraine requires their institutionalization and development of theoretical and methodological approaches to the whole complex of problems and challenges, that facing scientists. The institutionalization of the economic history of the Ukraine should ensure the cooperation of scientists working on its various components and it also allows involving specialists from other fields of knowledge to the implementation of research projects. We fully support the thesis that economic history should serve as a "meeting place" for specialists in various sciences, especially historians, economists and lawyers. It is this scientific cooperation of economists and historians, as well as experts in statistics, materials science, cartography, physical and historical geography, and their methodological tools, that will enhance such research and enable new knowledge to be acquired. Unfortunately, usage of methods and techniques from other sciences by historians not always leads to objective research results. The practical significance of the article lies in the possibility of using the main of the basic theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of the economic history of Ukraine in own studies, in particular concerning the choice of the sources base for researches and the methodology of its analysis. Originality. Many years of experience in own scientific researches in the field of economic history, especially the history of finance, as well as the analysis of many works on this issue, allows the authors of the article to focus attention on the most complex theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of the economic history of Ukraine. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis of the basic theoretical-methodological and source-studying problems of different periods in economic history. Type of the article: methodological.