Economic Theory: New Paths for the Development of Economic Education in the Digital Economy Era

This study examines the impact of digitalization on economic theory and the education system, given the growing influence of digital processes on society. It focuses on economic theory in two contexts: as a science that analyzes the interaction of economic agents and as a discipline taught in higher education. The study aims to identify ways to enhance the prestige of economic theory both in research and education while improving the quality of higher education. The research method involved analyzing scientific and educational literature on the digital economy’s effect on economic theory, course materials in economic theory and digital economics, and research on changes in education due to digitalization. The study identifies qualitative shifts in economic relations, such as monopolization, barriers in information and technology flows, and new characteristics of digital goods and services that challenge the mainstream economic concepts. These changes call for new approaches to analyzing economic reality. However, these issues are rarely addressed in current academic and educational literature. Consequently, there is a need to modernize Russian economic education, where economic theory has been taught in the same form since the neoclassical synthesis, reducing both the effectiveness of students’ learning and the appeal of economic theory as a discipline. The study also highlights practical educational challenges posed by digitalization, which affect education quality. To address these, the author proposes revitalizing economic theory as both a science and an academic subject and tackling key educational issues related to faculty, students, and university management. The proposed education system should leverage digital technologies developed collaboratively by universities, employers, and Russian digital companies.