Digital competence asymmetry of the Russian Federation regions

the aim of this study is to develop a methodology for assessing the digital competencies of Russian regions and to evaluate the digital competency asymmetry between regions. Methods: statistical methods for analyzing data on ICT and digital competencies development were used, including median normalization and threshold classification, followed by clustering of regions by digital competency profiles. Findings: the results of digital competency assessments using methods from Eurostat, the Ministry of Labor, the Higher School of Economics, and others were analyzed, and a comparison of digital competency development with EU countries by federal district was made. A proprietary assessment methodology was used to assess the digital competency asymmetry between Russian regions. The study analyzed the population's proficiency in various digital competencies in Russian regions: information, communication, problem-solving, and software skills, and assessed the digital competencies of the Russian population across four groups. The regions with the most developed digital competencies were Moscow and the Moscow Region, Tyumen Region, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, and Chelyabinsk and Irkutsk Regions. Conclusions: a study of the Digital Transformation Strategies of leading and trailing regions allowed us to formulate digital competency development strategies for each group (PPPs for financing digital transformation projects, venture and crowdfunding financing, IT funds, participation in federal programs, support for digital transformation in business, and implementation of educational programs for training in digital competencies).

digital competency asymmetry, digital inequality, region, socioeconomic development, information and communication technologies