DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC METHODOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Modern economic methodology is in the process of profound changes, determined by the development of scientific and technological progress and the complexity of socio-economic systems. Since the late 20th century, economics has been experiencing a crisis that requires new approaches to the methodology of research, in particular, in economic theory. A significant methodological boom, which has led to the allocation of economic methodology as a separate scientific subdiscipline, has been noted. It combines the views of economists, philosophers, psychologists and research methodologists. This allowed to expand the subject field of economic methodology including epistemological issues, in particular, the study of the economic knowledge structure and the cognition process. Methodological approaches to economics have undergone significant changes with the emergence of new theoretical guidelines, such as neopositivism and general theory of equilibrium. Econometrics that focuses on empirical data also occupies an important place. The distinction in economics is made between normative and positive methodology. The normative methodology defines the ideals and standards of research, often criticizing practical application, while positive methodology focuses on empirical research and creation of working hypotheses to solve specific economic issues. Taking into consideration the complexity of modern socio-economic systems, the economic methodology must consider not only economic, but also social, cultural and moral factors. This also includes issues of moral factors in economic progress, where the man is considered as the central element of economic processes. The development of economic methodology in Ukraine in the 21st century is focused on training young researchers, but it also requires in-depth research aimed at updating its theoretical and practical aspects. Modern research in economics emphasizes the importance of integrating various disciplines for the deeper understanding of economic processes, where moral and socio-cultural components play a significant role. Thus, economic methodology undergoes the transformation process that reflects changes in the economics as part of complex social and cultural systems' perception.