Retrospective Analysis of the Evolution of Monopoly Regulation Methods

Abstract

Currently, in most countries of the world, activities are distinguished that are considered natural monopolies and regulated ei-ther by the state (executive authority) or by public organizations. Regulation of natural monopolies takes a lot of resources and requires analysis of a large amount of information, but decisions taken are often unreasonable, as confirmed by judicial practice. The principles of assigning organizations to monopolies and the methods of their regulation have changed significantly over time. The article reviews studies on the evolution of approaches to regulating the activities of mo-nopolies in the world from ancient Rome to the present. The purpose of the retrospective analysis was to identify the main patterns of development of economists’ views on the problem of regulating monopolies and their comparison with the stages of social and economic development of society. As a result, a causal diagram (Ishikawa diagram) of the evolution of monopoly regulation methods was constructed. The main socio-economic fac-tors affecting the understanding of the essence of monopolies and the methods used to regulate them have been established. Socio-economic fac-tors characteristic of the modern - digital - stage of the development of society are determined. As a result of the study, the need to create a new system for regulating the activities of monopolies, which, on the one hand, meets the requirements of the digital economy (has a clear structure and logic; is able to request, collect and analyse the informa-tion necessary for regulatory decisions; uses in the process of regulation reliable and objective information obtained from intelligent metering devices or databases through unified information interaction systems), and on the other hand, meets the goals of sustainable development and does not prevent the spread of competition in cases where the monopoly ceases to be effective.