Mental potential of the population of territory: the theory and methodology

In article the author's theoretical methodological approach to understanding of an economic category of a mental potential of the population of territory is presented. From the point of view of classical understanding of the economic category reflecting essence of economic events and processes, the population mental potential is analysed through revealing of its external, visible forms of economic relations - structural elements, forms of their display, levels of display and quantitative characteristics. Despite theoretical approach, research of intellectual resources in modern conditions of financial crisis are extremely actually as the intellectual component of economic development is one of significant factors of innovative economy.