ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the critical challenge of defining and measuring the digital economy. It outlines the conceptual ambiguity surrounding the digital economy and the evolving definitions provided by organizations such as the OECD, UNCTAD and the European Commission. The chapter classifies digital economy measurement into three levels: the core (ICT sector), the narrow scope (digital platforms and services) and the broad scope (digitization across all sectors). It analyzes key macroeconomic indicators – including value added, employment and productivity – within these categories and discusses the limitations of current statistical methods.
Special attention is given to the complexity of quantifying intangible assets such as data, algorithms and platform-based services, which are central to digital value creation but often underrepresented in national accounts. The chapter reviews various global indices, such as the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and the Networked Readiness Index, to highlight disparities in digital development across countries and regions. In addition, it evaluates methodologies for tracking digital skills, infrastructure readiness and innovation capacity.
The chapter concludes by emphasizing the need for more dynamic, multidimensional and internationally harmonized tools for capturing the true scale and impact of the digital economy, particularly as digitalization continues to blur the boundaries between sectors and challenge conventional economic indicators.
