On some theoretical issues of classification of payment systems
Authors: Kovalchuk Anastasia 
Published: January 2022

Problem setting. The author’s vision of ways to solve the problem of classification of payment systems in the new political and socio-economic conditions is presented in the article. The need to rethink the concept of “payment system” in connection with changes in current legislation of Ukraine, which in this context makes the category of “payment transactions” instead of “transfer of funds”, as before. It is emphasized that such an innovation expands the concept of “payment system” in a broader sense, which requires additional scientific research.

Analysis of recent researches and publications. The question of the classification of payment systems has been repeatedly addressed by both domestic and foreign scientists and practical workers. For domestic science and practice, there is a need for critical understanding of existing views on the classification of payment systems, which is caused by the processes of adaptation of national legislation to the EU acquis in accordance with the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine, on the one hand, and the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community and their member states, on the other hand [9], in particular, in connection with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Payment Services” dated June 30, 2021 № 1591-IX [10]. Such changes in the current legislation of Ukraine have not yet been properly reflected in publications on financial and legal topics and lead to further scientific searches in this area.

Target of research is to update existing approaches to the classification of payment systems to improve the legal regulation of financial relations in new economic and socio-political conditions.

Article’s main body. The understanding of the term “classification” is clarified, because in the practice of research in general theory of law and branch of legal sciences, it is often used without indicating its clear meaningful understanding or such a view may have significant differences. It is noted that although for legal science classification is a traditional and widely used method of scientific research, at the same time, there is a need for a clearer idea of such a means of scientific knowledge and overcoming terminological inconsistencies. Attention is drawn to the need to compare the concept of “classification” with such related categories as typology, systematization, modeling, clustering, cataloging, periodization, etc.

Conclusions and prospects for the development. The view is maintained that to classify means to divide objects, phenomena or concepts into classes, groups, etc. according to common features, properties, criteria. It is emphasized that most of the criteria for the classification of payment systems are conditionally legal and reflect their respective organizational, functional or technical and technological features. In this context, the opinion is expressed that the legal criteria for classification should be considered only those that directly have the appropriate legal significance, determine the content in the areas of legal regulation of the organization and functioning of payment systems. It is proposed to distinguish between regulated and unregulated payment systems on such a legal basis as state legitimacy.