DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE EU: OPPORTUNITIES OF THE VISEGRAD COUNTRIES

Abstract

The article gives an idea of the development of digital economy in the European Union. Main indexes that give an integral vision of digital transformation in the EU member states are analyzed. Strengths and weaknesses of digital development of the Visegrad countries than predetermine their «lagging» position are identified. Many negative factors are of long-term nature and determine the degradation of positions that the «four» members are having during the last years. The presence of disproportional development within the scope of the Visegrad Group with the definite digital leadership of the Czech Republic was revealed. The main directions of the future digital development of the EU as a whole and the priorities of its member states, including «2030 Digital Compass», are considered. Special attention is paid to the issue of the impact of digitalization on the economy. The problem of inequality during the expansion of the digital economy is analyzed. The «Solow paradox» is confirmed as illuctrated by the Visegrad countries which indicates the existence of structural factors affecting economic dynamics, that digitalization isn’t yet able to «compensate».