Measuring Digital Development with Online Data: Digital Economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Abstract

The Internet, like railways and roads in the past, is paving innovation and alters the way in which citizens, consumers, businesses, and governments function and interact with each other. This digital revolution is empowering societies. It opens new, effective, and scalable services for governments and the private sector. It provides us with a more adaptive, data-driven approach to decision making in many aspects of our life. The digitalisation is particularly relevant for developing countries, as they can seize the opportunity for leapfrogging in order to become part of the global digitalised economy. With the example of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, this work illustrates how openly available online data can be used to identify, monitor, and visualise trends in digital economic development. Our interactive online dashboard allows researchers, policy-makers, and the public to explore four aspects of digital development: E-services, online labour markets, online knowledge creation and access to online knowledge.