Digital economy formation and development at the regional level

Introduction. Researchers around the world are in search of new sources and drivers of economic development and growth. In this regard, digital economy is becoming one of the main internal factors stimulating the economic activity of the country and its regions. Therefore, its emergence, development and measurement are becoming a priority at present. Theoretical analysis. It is important to note that the formation and development of digital economy is associated with the main trends in economic development that have developed as a result of the third and fourth industrial revolutions. In this way, digital economy reflects the transition from the third to the fourth industrial revolution. Industrial revolutions are associated with a radical change in old technological modes and the emergence of completely new technologies that have a huge impact and contribute to the transformation of the economy and other areas. Empirical analysis. In the course of the study, the process of digital transformation was considered not only at the national level, but also at the level of the regions of the Russian Federation. It was revealed that digitalization within the country, in some regions, is extremely uneven. There is a small group of leading cities with a high level of digital development, and there are many regions that lag behind, in which the population has limited access to modern technologies. In addition to the gap in access to digital technologies and the Internet, there is an inequality in digital competencies, knowledge and skills of users, and ways of using technology. Results. In current reality, in order to ensure their development, competitiveness on the world stage, maintain sovereignty and national security, as well as to improve the standard of living and well-being of the population, states need to stimulate the digitalization of the economy and other spheres of society, approaching this comprehensively and systematically, develop roadmaps and national programs for the development of digital economy, follow their transition to digital economy and use foreign countries experience in the formation of its ecosystem. Their analysis will make it possible to compare and assess the level of digitalization in Russia, to develop recommendations for faster and higher quality digital development.

digital economy, digitalization, digital transformation, digital technologies, digital gap, business model, regional development