The ecosystem concept in economics and management: A systematic review (part 1)
Authors: Shapovalov V. V. , Ratushnyak E. S. 
Published: September 2024

Aim. To summarize and systematize the approaches available in the Russian scientific literature to the consideration of the ecosystem in economics and management, to highlight changes in the study of the main components of the economy due to the formation of the ecosystem, and to show the specifics of the contribution of ecosystems to the development of economicprocesses.

   Objectives. To determine the approaches reflected in modern scientific Russian economic works to the consideration of the ecosystem in the context of economic development; to consider the types of ecosystem characteristic of the levels of the economy, as well as the specific features of its realization at each of them.

   Methods. The research was carried out in three stages. At the first stage, a query in the search system of the scientific electronic library eLIBRARY.RU according to the given parameters with the application of additional filters was performed. At the second stage, a register of fifty studies with the largest number of citations was formed as a result of ranking the works found within the search query by the number of citations, which were then evaluated on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria for substantive analysis. The third stage includes systematization and synthesis of the information obtained from the content analysis of the selected material.

   Results. The ecosystem acts as a new unit of economic analysis. From the position of economic development its role is defined by three components: 1) a form of economic interaction; 2) a mechanism of regulation; 3) a technology of business development. The ecosystem at the macro- and meso-levels has specific features. The macro level is characterized by a qualitative change in the state of the business environment, defined as ecosystem. The formation of synergetic effect of industry development is taking place on the basis of complementarity and coordination of companies within the ecosystem, while there is a shift from a clear distinction between them to a complex intertwining. The meso-level is characterized by the development of socio-economic ecosystems classified according to various features. Competition is carried out at the level of socio-economic ecosystems. From the position of the mesolevel, the effects consist in the emergence of new organizational and economic forms of social relations, such as business ecosystem, innovation ecosystem, entrepreneurial ecosystem, platform-based ecosystem. Obtaining the effects determines the feasibility of implementing the ecosystem approach, which is at the heart of the development of ecosystem economy based on collaboration.

   Conclusions. The concept of ecosystem in economics and management is in constant dynamic development, based on interdisciplinary research. Therefore, systematization and analysis of the accumulated experience allow us to identify common characteristics of its implementation in the economy for a deep understanding and designation of the ongoing qualitative changes. The main categories reflecting such qualitative changes in the economy are ecosystem economy and socio-economic ecosystem. At the same time, “ecosystemness” is considered as an actual modern condition necessary for development.