Digital development of regions: current status and prospects

The goal of the research is to define the prospects of further digital growth in Russia and to assess the current state of national digitalization. Global digitalization is an ongoing tactical project for the introduction of new technologies in all areas of activity, as well as a strategic direction that will influence Russia’s future position in the world. Currently, the level of development of digital processes in our country is at the middle or low level (judging by some parameters). The article presents a cross-country comparison of various indicators and indices of digitalization. Methods used for the research were comparative analysis, analysis of legal documents, system analysis of sources. Apart from cross-country comparison, the article compares digitalization processes, financial inclusion and growth of financial literacy among the population. As a result of the study, a conclusion about the interconnection of these processes is made. Thus, the digitalization contributes to the growth of the financial inclusion level, and, on the other hand, financial literacy contributes to financial inclusion, while the indicated inclusion stimulates the growth of the GDP. In addition to that, active use of digital services, being the foundation of national digitalization growth, is observed among the population with economic interest and availability of free savings. The authors believe that further digital growth requires higher economic interest of the population in these processes. The research results can be reasonably applied when planning state programs for the development of digitalization. The overall digital development of the state is shaped by the development of these processes in the regions. This requires consistent work at the level of the said regions that are very dissimilar, both economically and digitally. Assessment of “digital maturity” of regions is a long-run objective necessary for effective monitoring of national development goals