Theoretical and Methodological Foundations for Monitoring the Sustainability of Regional Economic Systems in the Digital Economy

The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations for monitoring the sustainability of regional economic systems in the context of digital transformation. Various scientific approaches in the field of research on methods for monitoring the stability of regional economic systems are considered. The author notes that existing approaches often overemphasize quantitative measurements and ignore socio-psychological aspects, which prevents an adequate assessment of the comprehensive concept of sustainability, which also includes the spiritual needs of the population. As a solution, a multifactorial approach is proposed, operationalized through the development of a comprehensive index of the sustainability of the regional economic system. The index aggregates four key sub-indexes: the state of the economy in the regional sphere; the results achieved in the production sector; the opinions of citizens on their satisfaction with the social sphere; the side effects of the consequences of the implementation of certain programs. To bridge the gap between objective statistics and subjective estimates, it is proposed to introduce a digital platform that implements a “dual monitoring method” that combines big data analysis and the collection of “sensory indicators” through surveys and monitoring of social networks. The practical significance of the research lies in creating a tool for proactive management and making informed strategic decisions aimed at sustainable improvement of the quality of life.