DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERTIARY SECTOR IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TRANSITION TO A POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

this article examines the role and significance of the service sector in the formation of the modern economy and the transition to a post-industrial society. The study analyzes the historical evolution of views on the service sector, from the classical concept of productive and unproductive labor proposed by Adam Smith to contemporary interpretations recognizing services as a key factor in economic growth and social development. The paper highlights the increasing share of the tertiary sector in GDP and employment in developed countries and examines the factors driving its rapid expansion, including technological progress, globalization, rising consumer demands, and improvements in living standards. Special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the development of the service sector, employment generation, and poverty reduction.