Islamic Finance Doctrine: The Nature and Evolution

Abstract

The article identifies basic models of Islamic finance industry and provides a critical assessment (compared to conventional finance) оf mechanism of their functioning. Despite having obvious positive aspects, such as limitation of speculative or risky securitization, focusing on financing the real sector of economy and encouraging the direct interrelationship between financial and productive sectors, in our view, the mechanism of Islamic economics in some ways is at variance with a number of fundamental principles of effective economic activity. Objective factors (demographic, political, economic) cause an increase of role and influence of the industry over regional financial markets and international finance and determine the relevance of further research in this area. Today, Islamic finance comprises such commercial areas as capital markets, asset management and insurance. They represent all segments of modern financial market – commercial banking, operations with equity and venture capital, trade financing, insurance and even financial hedging. Only a small share of Muslims’ financial relations is provided in accordance with Islamic law. Under conditions of introducing the convenient, liquid and standardized financial instruments and further improvement of regulation for financial markets, redistribution of resources in favor of Islamic financial markets, as well as rapid growth of their share in international finance are expected.