The Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences № 1/2026. Issues of Economic theory.

Denis S. Ushakov

Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Professor, Professor of World Economy and International Relations Department, Rostov State Economic University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

ORCID: 0000-0001-6413-6116

Tatiana V. Podolskaya

Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Head of International Economic Relations Department, South-Russian Institute of Management of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

ORCID: 0000-0003-0337-051X

FLOW ECONOMY VS TERRITORY ECONOMY: HISTORICAL ROOTS OF THE CONTEMPORARY CONFLICT BETWEEN STATES AND PLATFORMS

7-24

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The article analyzes the Punic Wars as a prototypical conflict between two fundamental economic paradigms: the network-based (“flow economy”) model of Carthage and the territorial-administrative (“land economy”) model of Rome. It is demonstrated that this confrontation is not merely a historically localized event, but an archetypal one, shaping the long-term dynamics of the global economy. Particular attention is paid to the theoretical substantiation of this dichotomy as a universal analytical framework. The primary historical reincarnations of these paradigms are identified–from medieval merchant republics to modern digital platforms. The permanence of this conflict is justified, as it manifests in contemporary contradictions between global network actors and nation-states.

Keywords: economic paradigm, Punic Wars, Carthage, Rome, network economy, territorial empire, economic conflict.

JEL: N73, B52, F50

EDN: EZFKEZ

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2026_1_7_24

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Manuscript submission date: 05.12.2025

Manuscript acceptance date: 24.02.2026

For citation:

Ushakov D.S., Podolskaya T.V. Flow economy vs territory economy: historical roots of the contemporary conflict between states and platforms // Vestnik Instituta Ekonomiki Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk. 2026. № 1. Pp. 7-24. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2026_1_7_24 EDN: EZFKEZ

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