ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AS A FACTOR OF REGIONAL ASYMMETRY: THE CASE OF THE SAMARA REGION

Vaskova Yulia I., Dmitrieva Elena O., Grigiryants Igor A.

The paper investigates the impact of the digital divide on the reproduction of regional asymmetry in the Samara region within a political‑economy perspective. A model is proposed that embeds a composite digital potential index and a proximity‑to‑core indicator into a regional production function. Empirical analysis of 2020–2024 data reveals a persistent increase in the gap between the agglomeration core and the periphery and a lower digital output elasticity in peripheral areas, confirming the existence of barriers to transforming digital potential into economic growth. Institutional measures are outlined to mitigate asymmetry.

Keywords:digital divide; regional asymmetry; digital potential; core–periphery; digital rent; regional economic growth