International transportation infrastructure as an object of economic and geographical research

Introduction. Basic terms and notions are fundamental for any science. They determine the methodology, theory and methods of scientific research. Nowadays, a generally accepted definition of International Transportation Infrastructure is lacking in economic and social geography. The main purpose of the article is to define a position of international transportation infrastructure in the system of scientific concepts as an infrastructural branch in national and global world economy. Materials and methods. In this paper, definitions of industrial infrastructure and international industrial infrastructure are examined from several points of view. The definition of “international transportation infrastructure” is resulted from above mentioned ones. Moreover, the special features of international transportation infrastructure as an element of industrial infrastructure are identified in this paper. Results. Much attention is paid to such forms of internationalization of the world economy as regionalization and globalization in order to develop a geographical circulation of the term “international transportation infrastructure”. The paper analyses the ideas of different researchers on international transportation corridor as a new phenomenon in the world economy and correlates two definitions: international transportation infrastructure and international transportation corridor. There are many discussions in the field of Economic Geography on industrial infrastructure, including international transportation infrastructure (ITI). Transportation objects attached to the territory are considered as passive fixed assets. At first, ITI was formed as an element of territorial structure of economy of the integration region. Afterwards under the influence of globalization of the world economy its geographical boundaries have been considerably extended. The author attempts to provide a definition of international transportation infrastructure and identify the peculiarities of its formation and development. Conclusion. The author concludes that international transportation infrastructure is increasingly recognized and is an important component in the hierarchy of the concepts of industrial infrastructure. The geographical boundaries of this concept can be expanded under the influence of the processes of regionalization and globalization in the world economy. ITI determines the geographical features of macro-territorial structure of economy of the country, the region and the entire world economy.