The necessity of a period of transition between different social epochs, socio-economic structures and modes of production is explained in this paper. Namely, the transition into another epoch, structure or mode of production cannot be carried out in a jumpy, rapid, simple way, but in a gradual one, possible and desired from the financial and social aspect. In the hitherto historical development the transition periods varied in their length, characteristics, etc. Due to its major characteristics the present transition period differs from the preceding ones in several ways. First, two modes of production are in effect: the capitalist and the etatistic one; second, the previous transition periods referred only to private ownership, while the present one is carried out in the pluralism of ownership relations (the private, state, joint, mixed and other kinds of ownership); third, previously there existed a ruling class, while nowadays there are different classes, social layers and so on (the capitalist class, the managerial, the bureaucratic one, etc.); fourth, such a rapid development of the productive relations as the one carried out is unknown in history (robotics, informatics, computerization, etc.). Now the convergence of the capitalist and the socialist socio-economic system (the etatistic mode of production) is under way and the prerequisites for the creation of a new mode of production are fulfilled.