Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with this notice and the Terms of Use.
Journals KemSU
Scientific journal "Bulletin of KemSU. Series: Humanities and Social Sciences Scientific journal "Bulletin of KemSU. Series: Political, Sociological and Economic sciences Scientific journal "Bulletin of KemSU. Series: Biological, Engineering and Earth Sciences SibScript (until February 17, 2023 – Bulletin of KemSU Strategizing: Theory and Practice Foods and Raw Materials Virtual Communication and Social Networks Food Processing: Techniques and Technology Dairy industry Cheese- and buttermaking Science Evolution
Submit manuscript
Bulletin of Kemerovo State University. Series: Political, Sociological and Economic sciences
VAK Russia 5.2.3 UDC 332.02 UDC 332.05

DIGITAL DIVIDE AND REGIONAL BRIDGING TOOLS Digital Divide and Regional Bridging Tools

Published in Bulletin of Kemerovo State University. Series: Political, Sociological and Economic sciences · Volume 11, Issue 3, 2026 · Pages 448–461 · Rubric: REGIONAL AND SECTORAL ECONOMY
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2026-11-3-448-461 · EDN: TLCAKL
Received: 30.10.2025 Accepted: 02.03.2026 Published: 15.10.2026
Authors
SE
Sergey Ponomarev
ORCID SPIN
AL
Aleksey Shleenko
ORCID SPIN
SE
Sergey Kulakov
ORCID SPIN
EL
Elena Plehanova
ORCID SPIN
ABSTRACT
Digital development can exacerbate current social and economic inequalities, as well as create new barriers to social inclusion and digital participation. Regional governments need effective tools to identify existing digital gaps and reduce them to ensure balanced digital development. This article describes a methodology for digital strategizing at the regional level as a tool for assessing and managing the digital divide across Russia’s regions. The standard research methods were accompanied by conceptual modeling, quantitative analysis, the composite index method, visualization, and analytical interpretation. The so-called "digital compass" of regional development served as a conceptual and applied digital policy tool to overcome the territorial digital divide through a comprehensive assessment and synchronization of key parameters of digital transformation, such as infrastructure, human capital, the accessibility of digital services, and the digital transformation of business. Unlike traditional indices, the "digital compass" determines both the current status and strategic vectors for digital development. The analysis revealed severe territorial heterogeneity in digital development: the leading positions belonged to the Central and Northwestern Federal Districts, with their developed infrastructure and strong digital human capital. The Southern and Far Eastern regions, by contrast, demonstrated a stable digital divide. The "digital compass" methodology made it possible to identify the digital divide and strategic growth points in Russia’s regions, as well as to make effective management decisions in digital development policy.
KEYWORDS
digitalization, digital development, region, digital compass, regional policy, digital literacy
Text References
Text
Text (RU) (PDF)
Read Download

1. Karpunina E. K., Zabelina O. V., Lupacheva S. V., Mirzabalaeva F. I., Alieva P. R. Assessment of interregional divides in digital development as a basis for the policy of overcoming Russia's digital lag. International Journal of Technology Policy & Management, 2023, 23(2): 148–169. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijtpm.2023.131373

2. Ponomarev S. V., Usanov A. Yu., Pokamestov I. E., Kuzmenko N. I. Digital development of economic systems of BRICS countries. Vestnik Kemerovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriia: Politicheskie, sotsiologicheskie i ekonomicheskie nauki, 2024, 9(4): 598–609. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2024-9-4-598-609

3. Bychkova N. P., Tavbulatova Z. K., Ruzhanskaya N. V., Tamov R. M., Karpunina E. K. Digital readiness of Russian regions. Proceedings of the 36th IBIMA Conference, 2020, 2442–2460. https://elibrary.ru/oxfwph

4. Karpunina E. K., Pilipchuk N. V., Mirzabalaeva F. I., Alieva P. R., Zubareva N. N. Measuring the activity of the population of Russian regions in the global online labour market. International Journal of Human Resources Development & Management, 2023, 23(3): 250–267. https://doi.org/10.1504/ijhrdm.2023.136388

5. Galieva G. F., Alekhina O. F., Koryakina T. V., Bashlykov T. V. Population activities on online labor market platforms. Vestnik Kemerovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriia: Politicheskie, sotsiologicheskie i ekonomicheskie nauki, 2025, 10(3): 419–428. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21603/2500-3372-2025-10-3-419-428

6. Nazarova I. G., Galieva G. F., Sazanova E. V., Chernenko E. M., Karpunina E. K. Labor market and employment problems: Analysis of long-term dynamics and prospects of development in Russian regions. Imitation market modeling in digital economy: Game theoretic approaches, ed. Popkova E. G. Cham: Springer, 2022, 711–722. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93244-2_77

7. Thordsen T., Bick M. A decade of digital maturity models: Much ado about nothing? Information Systems and E-Business Management, 2023, 21(4): 947–976. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10257-023-00656-w

8. Rossmann A. Digital maturity: Conceptualization and measurement model. Bridging the Internet of People, Data, and Things: Proc. 39th Intern. Conf., San Francisco, 13–16 Dec 2018. San Francisco, 2018, vol. 2, 1633–1641.

9. Ostmeier E., Strobel M. Building skills in the context of digital transformation: How industry digital maturity drives proactive skill development. Journal of Business Research, 2022, 139: 718–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.020

10. Ochoa-Urrego R.-L., Peña-Reyes J.-I. Digital maturity models: A systematic literature review. Digitalization: Approaches, case studies, and tools for strategy, transformation and implementation, eds. Shallmo D. R. A., Tidd J. Cham: Springer, 2021, 71–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69380-0_5

11. Stroev V. V., Sidorenko S. V. Analysis of digital maturity of the Russian regions. Vestnik universiteta, 2024, (5): 5–14. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/atstie

12. Popov E. V. The regional dimension of digital skills research. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya, 2024, (6): 65–75. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31857/S0132162524060065

13. Gladkova A. A., Garifullin V. Z., Ragnedda M. Model of three levels of the digital divide: Current advantages and limitations (as exemplified by the republic of Tatarstan). Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Seriya 10. Zhurnalistika, 2019, (4): 41–72. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30547/vestnik.journ.4.2019.4172

14. Gruzdeva M. A. Digital skills and benefits of using digital services: Signs of territorial asymmetry. Human Progress, 2020, 6(4). (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.34709/IM.164.4

15. Alyokhina O. F., Beilina A. F., Trufanova S. A., Bashlykov T. V. A study of the peculiarities of freelance activity of the Russian population on online labor market platforms. Izvestiya Yugo-Zapadnogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Ekonomika. Sotsiologiya. Menedzhment, 2024, 14(3): 194–206. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.21869/2223-1552-2024-14-3-194-206

16. Vassilakopoulou P., Hustad E. Bridging digital divides: A literature review and research agenda for information systems research. Information Systems Frontiers, 2023, 25(3): 955–969. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-020-10096-3

17. Elena-Bucea A., Cruz-Jesus F., Oliveira T., Coelho P. S. Assessing the role of age, education, gender and income on the digital divide: Evidence for the European Union. Information Systems Frontiers, 2020, 23(4): 1007–1021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-020-10012-9

18. Díaz Andrade A., Techatassanasoontorn A. A. Digital enforcement: Rethinking the pursuit of a digitally-enabled society. Information Systems Journal, 2020, 31(1): 184–197. https://doi.org/10.1111/isj.12306

19. Lythreatis S., Singh S. K., El-Kassar A. N. The digital divide: A review and future research agenda. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2022, 175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121359

20. De Bruyn C., Musa K., Castanho R. A. Can digitalization bridge the gap? Exploring human development and inequality in Gauteng province, South Africa? Sustainable Development, 2025, 33(3): 3847–3857. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.3329

21. Ponomarev S. V., Bondareva N. A., Abalakin A. A. Advantages and limitations of the development of the digital economy ecosystem (using the example of the BRICS and G7 countries). Journal of Volgograd State University. Economics, 2024, 26(1): 128–140. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15688/ek.jvolsu.2024.1.11

22. Maksaev A. E., Surakatov N. S., Sobolevskaya T. G., Lebedeva S. L., Karpunina E. K. Online education in developing countries: A comparative analysis of the development of the sector in Russia, China and Brazil. Proceedings of the 36th International Business Information Management Association Conference, 2020, 2266–2276. https://elibrary.ru/tonpaz

23. Ponomarev S. V., Mirgorod E. E., Beilina A. F., Chudaeva A. A., Maksaev A. A. Online education in BRICS countries: New opportunities for post-pandemic development. Ecological footprint of the modern economy and the ways to reduce it. The role of leading technologies and responsible innovations, eds. Sergi B. S., Popkova E. G., Ostrovskaya A. A., Chursin A. A., Ragulina Yu. V. Cham: Springer, 2024, 373–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49711-7_62

24. Pilipchuk N. V., Strelnikova T. D., Batova O. V., Subkhonberdiev A. Sh., Lyalyuk A. V. Transformation of the higher education services market: Comparative analysis by OECD countries. Innovative trends in international business and sustainable management, eds. Lazareva E. I., Murzin A. D., Rivza B. A., Ostrovskaya V. N. Singapore: Springer, 2023, 321–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4005-7_36

25. Gorbunova O. N., Pilipchuk N. V., Udovik E. E., Shugaeva O. V., Shumakova I. A. Work 4.0: Designing competencies for the employee of the future. Business 4.0 as a subject of the digital economy. Advances in science, technology & innovation, ed. Popkova E. G. Cham: Springer, 2022, 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90324-4_9

26. Karpunina E. K., Konovalova M. E., Titova E. V., Kheyfits B. I., Sobolevskaya T. G. New paradigm of the strategy of advanced development in the digital economy: Prerequisites, contradictions and prospects. Education excellence and innovation management: A 2025 vision to sustain economic development during global challenges: Proc. 35th Intern. Conf., Seville, 1–2 Apr 2020. IBIMA, 2020, 2270–2281. https://elibrary.ru/diwzxr

27. Karpunina E. K., Arutyunova A. E., Sazanova E. V., Maksaev A. A., Galieva G. F. Digitalisation determinants and digital dividends of the higher education system (on the example of Russia). International Journal of Education Economics and Development, 2022, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1504/ijeed.2022.125333

28. Moskovtseva L. V., Okunkova E. A., Korolyuk E. V., Ponomarev S. V. Digital innovations in the system of public administration. Izvestiya Yugo-Zapadnogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Ekonomika. Sotsiologiya. Menedzhment, 2024, 14(1): 34–47. (In Russ.) https://elibrary.ru/alinre

29. Plyasova S. V., Yazykova S. V., Konishchev E. V., Araslanbaev I. V. Theoretical and methodological base for studying digital inclusion in Russia. Surgut State University Journal, 2023, 11(2): 46–60. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35266/2312-3419-2023-2-46-60

This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
PDF JATS XML
The contact persons
Elena A. Morozova
Chief editor
Elena A. Morozova
morea@inbox.ru
2
downloads
RINC RINC Science Index VAK Crossref Socionet Cyberleninka Dimensions The Lens Directory of Open Access Journals
CC
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons
© КемГУ, 1997–2025
Agreement Personal data protection and processing policy Support Powered by Editorum, 2026 Instructions
Login or Create
* Forgot your password?