DIGITAL POLICY AS A DRIVER OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH: INTERNATIONAL ANALYSIS AND GLOBAL TRENDS IN BRIDGING THE TECHNOLOGICAL DECOUPLING
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to analyze the impact of digitalization on inclusive growth through the prism of transforming global technological gaps and to conduct a comparative study of reference models of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to substantiate strategic priorities for state policy aimed at bridging digital inequality and ensuring economic resilience. The achievement of the purpose set in the article is carried out with the help of the following research methods: bibliometric analysis of reports from international institutions (ITU, World Bank, OECD, UNCTAD); statistical analysis to assess the dynamics of quantitative and qualitative digital divides; comparative analysis of national digitalization strategies of India, Estonia, Brazil, Ukraine, and the EU to identify effective governance models. It is established that the global digital divide has transformed from a quantitative to a qualitative dimension, characterized by disparities in 5G access and traffic costs. The advantages of the open DPI model over closed ecosystems ("walled gardens") for ensuring financial inclusion and poverty reduction are proved. The evolution of DPI models is structured: from the infrastructural solutions of "India Stack" (API-based financial inclusion) and Estonia’s "X-Road" (interoperability) to the Brazilian payment system "Pix" and the Ukrainian human-centric model "Diia". The Ukrainian ecosystem is defined as a unique "mobile-first" benchmark that implements the "paperless" principle in G2C/B2C interactions and ensures resilience during crises. The necessity of the "twin transition" – aligning digital and green transformations – is highlighted to mitigate the environmental footprint of digitalization. The necessity of the state's transition from the role of a regulator to the guarantor of digital inclusion is substantiated. Strategic priorities are proposed: developing open digital platforms as public goods to reduce transaction costs for SMEs and integrating national DPIs into the global "green" agenda. This approach ensures economic resilience, prevents technological lock-in, and provides equal opportunities for business development and improving the quality of life.
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Copyright (c) 2026 О.І. Маслак, Я.Ю. Яковенко, М.В. Маслак, А.В. Корецький
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