The Role of Digital Platforms in Regional Development (Example of the Volga Federal District)

Introduction. In recent years, it has become clear that digitalization and digital platforms have permeated every aspect of human activi­ties, thereby transforming them. However, the application level of digital platforms varies significantly across the Russian regions, affecting their socio-economic development. The research goal is to uncover the role of digital platforms and digitalization in the socio-economic develop­ment of regions, using the Volga Federal District as an example. The current economic theories are unable to provide a full-scale interpreta­tion of the digital platforms phenomenon at the meso-economic level of an individual entity, prompting the need for exploration of the re­gional assessments of the digitalization impact. Methods. Exploring the positions and approaches to defining digital platforms by foreign and Russian authors implies the use of platform ecosystems in regional eco­nomic development for both commercial and non-commercial purpos­es. The empirical base of the research includes open statistical data and publications by digital economy researchers. Analysis, comparison, and correlation analysis have been employed as research methods. Results and Discussion. An original approach to interpreting digital platforms taking the socio-economic perspective on regional development is pro­posed, along with classification of digital platforms and analysis of var­ious indicators that characterise the development of digitalization and the use of digital platforms in Russian regions. Analysis of correlations between the digitalization indicators and digital platforms of the Volga Federal District regions has been conducted, and these indicators have been compared with the socio-economic development indicators. Con­clusion. The correlation analysis revealed that the expansion of digital­ization and digital platforms enhances the gross regional product, real average per capita income, and per capita investment in fixed capital in the Volga Federal District regions, positively impacting their socio-eco­nomic development. However, it was determined that digitalization and digital platforms do not significantly affect the unemployment rate in the region, as a very weak inverse correlation exists between internet penetration and the unemployment figures during the analysed period.