METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THE ASSESSMENT OF THE ECONOMY’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

The digital economy is becoming an integral part of the global economy, where digital technologies are the core of the digital economy. The core of the digital economy is the digital sector, which is responsible for creating software and hardware, as well as providing consulting and telecommunications services. The digital economy allows you to create new business models, digital platforms and services that create new types of economic activities, and transform traditional industries. Due to the transformation of industries in the digital economy, there is a transformation of the world economy, or rather the economy itself is digitalized. From this, we can conclude that the digital and global economies are becoming one and practically have no borders between them. Therefore, a thorough study of the digital economy will allow us to develop not only the digital potential of industries, but also bring the economy to a new level with the ability to avoid a global crisis in the future. The article is devoted to the systematization, generalizing and critically analyzing of modern methodological approaches to assessing the level of digital transformation of the economy and society. The most well-known index, which in one way or another reflect the level of digital transformation are analyzed: the ICT Development Index (IDI), the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), the Digital Evolution Index (DEI), the World Digital Competitiveness Index (WDCI), the Networked Readiness Index (NRI). These indices fully reveal the readiness of countries to implement digital technologies in economic and social spheres of activity. Based on the analysis, it is possible to identify the strengths and weaknesses of individual countries. Studies of the parameters showed that most of the countries of Europe, the Asian region and the USA are ready for digital transformation. There are no clear leaders among the above. But we can note that the African region is significantly behind. In addition to analyzing the parameters of each index as a whole, the paper reveals common features between them. The WDCI, DEI, and NRI indexes evaluate the environment that stimulates digitalization processes. The level of education and ICT skills are taken into account by the WDCI and NRI. The DESI Index evaluates the pricing of ICT services. Also common is the fact that some indices have similar parameters. Due to the peculiarities of the development of regions where there are clear leaders and lagging behind, the need for the formation of new indices reflecting the level of readiness of countries for digital transformation of the economy and the degree of digital globalization is revealed.